THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


BAR  RSSOGiflTIOji  i 

j:^  OF  fe^ 

m  mMsm  .  I 


ORDINANCES  OF  THE    BIBLE, 

SHOWING    THE    ORDINANCES   THAT    HAVE    BEEN 
ABOLISHED,  AND  THOSE  STILL  IN  VOGUE. 


BY 

E.  E.  BYRUM. 


Author  of  "The  Secret  of  Salvation:  How  to  Get  It,  and  How  to 

Keep  It,"  "Divine  Healing  of  Soul  and  Body,"  "  What 

Shall  I  Do  to  Be  Saved?"   "Behind  the  Prison 

Bare,"  "Boys'  Companion,"  Etc.,  Etc. 


GOSPEL  TRUMPET  COMPANY, 

ANDERSON,  IND.,   U.  S.  A. 


Copyright,  1904, 
By  E.   E.   Byrum. 


•?<osi 

AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


The  ordinances  of  the  Bible  are  recorded  in  both 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  But  through  the  in- 
fluence of  false  teachers,  and  the  improper  under- 
standing of  the  teaching  of  the  Word,  many  have 
been  led  into  a  wrong  belief,  insomuch  that  some 
altogether  discard  the  ordinances  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, believing  that  all  ordinances  were  nailed  to 
the  cross  and  ceased  at  the  death  of  Christ.  While 
others  observe  some  of  the  ordinances,  as  the  com- 
mandments of  Christ,  they  reject  others  of  them. 

It  is  the  aim  in  this  little  volume  to  present  the 
Word  of  God  on  the  subject,  that  the  reader  may 
readily  discriminate  between  the  Jewish  ordinances 
and  those  of  the  gospel.  And  that  he  may  know 
which  ordinances  have  ceased,  and  which  are  yet  in 
vogue. 

Trusting  that  those  who  read  may  be  benefited  and 
enlightened  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  I  remain, 
Yours  in  TTim, 

E.  E.  Byrum. 

Moundsviile,  W.  Va.,  Jan.  21,  1904. 


850508 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

The  Ordinances  of  tlie  BibL- 7 

Ordinances  of  the  Old  Testament 9 

Ordinances  of  the  New  '1  estaiuent 11 

The  Law  and  tlie  Gospel .  13 

The  End  of  the  Law 15 

The  Ordinances  Abolished 19 

How  and  When  Abolished ...    20 

What  Ordinances  Were  Abolished ii2 

The  Old  Testament  an  I  the  New 23 

The  Old  Covenant  and  the  New 25 

The  Gospel  Dispensation 27 

John  the  Baptist  and  His  AVork 31 

Pi-eaching  of  the  C  ospel  of  the  Kingdom 36 

The  Ministry  of  Jesus 38 

The  Ordination  of  the  Disciphs 40 

The  Last  Commission 43 

What  Are  the  New  Testament  Ordinances 45 

Baptism  and  What  It  Means 48 

Who  Are  Candidates  for  Baptism 54 

The  Mode  of  Baptism 56 

Triune  Baptism 69 

Sprinkling 75 

Pouring 85 

In  fiint  Baptism 86 

Rebaptisra 87 

The  Passover 88 

Communion  or  Lord's  Supper 90 

Breaking  of  Bread 93 

The  Cup — What  It  Represents 94 

Who  Can  Participate 96 

Feet-washing 98 

When  Established 100 

Why  Instituted 102 

How  Often  to  be  Gbs  rved 103 

The  Promise  ('•  iven 104 

The  Custom  under  th  ^  L.  w 106 

Objections  Considered 108 

The  Holy  Kiss Ill 

Its  Observance Ill 

\  ifting  up  Holy  Hand-* 114 

What  It  Represents 1 15 


THE  ORDINANCES  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

The  same  day  that  Jesus  Christ  arose  from  the 
tomb,  two  disciples  went  to  a  small  village  called 
Emmaus,  which  was  but  a  few  miles  from  Jerusa- 
lem. While  they  were  talking  together  of  the 
things  which  had  happened,  "Jesus  himself  drew 
near,  and  went  with  them.  But  their  eyes  were 
holden  that  they  should  not  know  him.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  What  manner  of  communications 
are  these  that  ye  have  one  to  another,  as  ye  walk, 
and  are  sad?" 

Supposing  him  to  be  a  stranger,  they  related  the 
recent  occurrences.  "And  beginning  at  Moses  and 
all  the  prophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all  the 
scriptures  the  things  concerning  himself."  After 
making  himself  known  to  them  he  vanished  out  of 
their  sight.  "And  they  said  one  to  another.  Did 
not  our  heart  burn  within  us,  while  he  talked  with 
us  by  the  way,  and  while  he  opened  to  us  the 
scriptures  ? ' ' 

lie  then  came  to  the  place  where  the  eleven  were 
gathered  together,  and  after  making  himself  known 
unto  them  said,  "These  are  the  words  which  I  spake 
unto  you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you,  that  all  things 
must  be  fulfilled,  which  were  written  in  the  law  of 

t 


8  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    TlIE    BIBT.E. 

Moses,  and  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  con- 
cerning nie.  Then  opened  he  their  understanding, 
that  they  might  understand  the  scriptures."  Luke 
24 :  44,  45.  In  his  last  commission  to  them  he  told 
them  to  go  forth  and  preach  to  all  nations,  "Teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have 
commanded  you."  Mat.  28:20. 

It  is  necessary  that  the  understanding  of  the  peo- 
ple at  the  present  time  be  opened,  that  they  may 
know  the  commands  of  Jesus  and  be  able  to  dis- 
criminate between  the  re(iuirements  of  the  law  of 
Moses,  and  what  was  enjoined  upon  the  people  of 
God  through  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Lord  said  to  Moses,  "Keep  mine  ordinances." 
Lev.  18 :  4.  This  command  was  not  for  Moses  alone, 
but  for  all  the  people  of  God  during  the  time  in 
which  the  law  of  Moses  was  in  vogue. 

An  ordinance  in  general  is  something  ordained  by 
authority ;  appointment.  A  rule  established  by 
authority.  An  established  rite.  The  ordinances  on 
the  Bible  consist  of  the  religious  ceremonies,  rites, 
or  practises  established  by  divine  authority. 

The  Jews  being  the  chosen  people  of  God  under 
the  old  covenant  there  were  certain  requirements 
and  observances  enjoined  upon  them  in  order  for 
them  to  be  in  favor  with  the  Lord.  The  law  fore- 
showed better  things  and  fulfilled  its  place  in  the 
realm  of  the  redemption  plan.  Nevertheless  while 
God  has  a  people  on  earth  they  will  be  under  his 
government  and  control  and  there  will  be  ordinances 
to   observe. 


ORDINANCES    OF    THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  9 

When  Jesus  Christ  was  with  his  disciples  here 
upon  earth  he  taught  them  the  way  of  salvation,  and 
gave  them  power  to  preach  the  gospel  with  heavenly 
authority.  He  instituted  certain  ordinances  and 
commanded  them  to  be  obedient  in  observing  them. 
The  command  of  observance  was  not  to  the  disciples 
alone,  but  after  his  resurrection  he  met  with  them 
as  they  were  assembled,  and  told  them  to  go  and 
teach  all  nations  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  he 
had  commanded  them.     Mat.  28 :  19,  20. 


ORDINANCES  OF  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT. 


The  commandments  and  certain  requirements  of 
the  law  of  Moses  were  the  ordinances  of  the  Old 
Testament.  It  was  through  a  covenant  which  God 
gave  to  his  people,  of  which  Moses  was  the  mediator, 
that  these  things  were  given.  The  requirements  and 
observances  signified  better  things,  and  were  to  con- 
tinue until  a  better  covenant  should  take  the  place 
of  the  old. 

"Then  verily  the  first  covenant  had  also  ordi- 
nances of  divine  service,  and  a  worldly  sanctuary. 
For  there  was  a  tabernacle  made;  the  first,  wherein 
was  the  candlestick,  and  the  table,  and  the  shew- 
bread;  which  is  called  the  sanctuary.  And  after  the 
second  vail,  the  tabernacle  which  is  called  the  Holiest 
of  all"  (Heb.  9:1-3);  which  was  furnished  with  the 
necessary  things  for  divine  service. 


10  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

In  these  places  the  priests  and  high  priests  made 
the  offerings  for  the  people  according  to  the  di- 
rections given  in  the  law.  However  the  gifts  and 
sacrifices  offered  "could  not  make  him  that  did  the 
service  perfect,  as  pertaining  to  the  conscience; 
which  stood  only  in  meats  and  drinks,  and  divers 
washings,  and  carnal  ordinances,  imposed  on  them 
until  the  time  of  reformation." 

The  people  of  God  were  required  to  keep  these 
ordinances  in  order  to  remain  in  his  favor.  To  re- 
fuse to  do  so,  wa.s  to  bring  the  displeasure  of  GoJ 
upon  themselves.  These  things  were  typical  of  some- 
thing more  grand  and  glorious,  and  also  were  held 
in  remembrance  of  something  of  the  past. 

Just  before  the  departure  of  the  children  of  Israel 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  God  spoke  to  Moses  and 
Aaron  concerning  the  passover,  and  told  them  to 
speak  to  the  people  saying:  "And  ye  shall  observe 
the  feast  of  unleavened  bread;  for  in  this  selfsame 
day  have  I  brought  your  armies  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt :  therefore  shall  ye  observe  this  day  in  your 
generations  by  an  ordinance   forever. ' '  Ex.   12 :  17. 

Seme  time  after  this  God  gave  the  ten  command- 
ments, and  Moses  said  to  the  people:  "And  he  de- 
clared unto  you  his  covenant,  which  he  commanded 
you  to  perform,  even  ten  commandments;  and  he 
wrote  them  upon  two  tables  of  stone."  Deut.  4:13. 

"The  Lord  made  not  this  covenant  with  our  fathers, 
but  with  us,  even  us,  who  are  all  of  us  here  alive 
this  day."  Deut.   5:3. 

It  w'as  not  given  to  Abraham,  nor  the  patriarchs 


ORDINANCES   OF   THE   NEW  TESTAMENT.  11 

of  old.  but  to  those  who  were  all  living  there  at  that 
time,  who  were  the  chosen  people  of  God.  And  was 
to  be  observed  by  thern  as  long  as  the  Jews  as  a 
nation  were  recognized  as  the  people  of  God. 

He  gave  them  further  instructions  concerning  the 
commandments,  statutes,  judgments,  offerings  of 
sacrifices  and  burnt-offerings,  and  gave  them  a  strict 
command  to  observe  them. 


ORDINANCES  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 


During  the  ministry  of  Jesus  among  the  people 
he  taught  them  the  way  of  salvation,  preached  unto 
them  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  and  how  to  enter 
into  it. 

He  set  an  example  for  his  followers  and  taught 
them  to  do  as  he  had  done  and  to  obey  his  com- 
mandments. He  fasted  and  prayed  with  them,  and 
for  them ;  taught  them  lessons  of  humility  and  sub- 
mis.sion.  The  words  of  instruction  given  to  the 
apostles  were  not  for  them  alone,  but  after  his  death 
and  resurrection,  and  before  his  ascension  into 
heaven,  he  met  with  them  and  said :  "Go  ye  there- 
fore, and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost :  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you."  Mat.  28: 19,  2C. 

These  were  not  the  commandments  of  the  la^^'  of 


12  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

Moses,  as  they  ended  at  the  cross.  Col.  2:14;  Eph. 
2 :  15, 16.     Now  since   they  were   ended   Christ  told 

his  disciples  to  go  and  teach  all  nations  to  observe 
the  things  which  he  had  commanded  them  to  do  while 
he  was  yet  with  them. 

After  setting  them  an  example  as  recorded  in  the 
thirteenth  chapter  of  John,  and  telling  them  to  con- 
tinue the  observance  of  the  same,  he  said :  "If  ye 
love  me,  keep  my  commandments."  John  14:  15. 

"He  that  hath  my  commandments,  and  keepeth 
them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me."  John  14:21. 

"If  a  man  love  me  he  will  keep  my  words."  John 
14 :  23. 

"He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth  not  my  sayings." 
John  14:24. 

"If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye  shall  abide  in 
my  love;  even  as  I  bave  kept  my  Father's  command- 
ments, and  abide  in  his  love."  John  15:  10. 

"For  this  is  the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep  his 
commandments :  and  his  commandments  are  not 
grievous. ' '  1  John  5:3. 

Many  years  after  the  death  of  Jesus  upon  the 
cross,  and  the  passing  away  of  the  Jewish  ordinances, 
Paul  admonished  the  brethren,  saying:  "Keep  the 
ordinances,  as  I  delivered  them  to  you."  1  Cor.  11: 
2.  And  he  further  said,  "For  I  have  received  of 
the  Lord  that  which  also  I  delivered  unto  you."  1 
breaking  of  the  bread,  which  was  a  remembrance  of 
Cor.  11 :  23,  In  this  he  also  referred  to  the  cup  and 
iiis  death. 


THE  LAW  AND  THE  GOSPEL. 


The  laAV  of  Moses  was  for  the  Jews,  who  were,  as 
a  nation,  considered  the  people  of  God  as  long  as 
this  law  was  in  force.  "It  was  added  because  of 
transgressions,  till  the  seed  should  come  to  whom 
the  promise  was  made ;  and  it  was  ordained  by 
angels  in  the  hand  of  a  mediator."  Gal.  3:  19. 

"Now  to  Abraham  and  his  seed  were  the  promises 
made.  He  saith  not,  And  to  seeds,  as  of  many ;  but 
as  of  one,  And  to  thy  seed,  which  is  Christ."  Gal. 
3:16. 

When  Christ  came  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  was 
preached,  and  after  his  death  it  was  preached  to  all 
nations;  then  the  people  of  God  were  no  longer 
under  the  dispensation  of  the  law,  but  were  under 
the  dispensation  of  the  gospel. 

The  law  was  weak.  Rom.  8 : 3. 

It  could  not  give  life.  Gal.  3 :  21. 

It  could  not  take  away  sins.  Heb.  10 : 4. 

It  was  a  law  of  bondage.  Gal.  4 :  24. 

Under  the  law  there  were  offerings  and  sacrifices 
and  things  purged  by  blood,  but  these  things  could 
not  take  away  sins;  neither  were  they  pleasing  unto 
the  Lord  after  Christ  the  great  sacrifice  had  been 
offered.  Heb.  9:22;  10:1-6. 

The  law  was  a  schoolmaster  to  bring  to  Christ 
the  people  of  God  who  lived  under  the  Mosaic  dis- 
pensation. Gal.  3 :  24. 

The  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth 
came  by  Jesus  Christ.  Jahn  1 :  17. 

18 


14  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE, 

Under  the  law  people  could  seek  revenge ;  but  the 
love  of  Christ  through  the  gospel  swept  all  enmity 
out  of  the  heart. 

"Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said,  An  eye 
for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth :  but  I  say  unto 
you.  That  ye  resist  not  evil :  but  whosoever  shall 
smite  thee  on  thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other 
also.  ...  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said. 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor,  and  hate  thine  enemy. 
But  I  say  unto  you.  Love  your  enemies,  bless  them 
that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and 
pray  for  them  which  despitefully  use  you,  and  per- 
secute you;  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven ....  Be  ye  therefore 
perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is 
perfect."  Mat.  5:38-48. 

"For  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your 
heavenly  Father  will  also  forgive  you:  but  if  ye 
forgive  not  men  their  trespasses,  neither  will  your 
Father  forgive  your  trespasses. ' '  Mat.  6 :  14, 15. 

While  the  law  was  one  of  bondage,  the  gospel 
gave  freedom,  life,  power  and  faith.  It  was  gooi 
tidings  to  all  nations.  It  brought  about  reconcilia- 
tion between  the  Jews  and  the  Gentiles,  such  as  had 
not  been  before.  And  Paul  said,  "I  am  not  ashamed 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ :  for  it  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth ;  to  the  Jew 
first,  and  also  to  the  Greek.  For  therein  is  the 
righteousness  of  God  revealed  from  faith  to  faith : 
as  it  is  written.  The  just  shall  live  by  faith."  Rom. 
1 :  16, 17. 


THE  END  OF  THE  LAW. 


After  Jesus  Christ  shed  his  blood  upoL  the  cross 
and  uttered  the  words,  "It  is  finished,"  from  that 
time  the  Mosaic  law  ceased  to  exist,  and  henceforth 
the  words  sounded  forth:  "That  no  man  is  justified 
by  the  law  in  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  evident :  for.  The 
just  shall  live  by  faith.  And  the  law  is  not  of 
faith:  but,  The  man  that  doeth  them  shall  live  in 
them.  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of 
the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us."  Gal.  3: 11-13. 

The  law  having  been  given  because  of  transgres- 
sions. Gal.  3 :  19.  Paul  said.  Before  faith  came  we 
were  under  the  law.  Gal.  3 :  23.  But  Christ  came 
to  take  away  our  transgressions  and  to  save  his  peo- 
ple from  their  sins. 

The  law  died  the  death  with  him  upon  the  cross. 
"Was  crucified  with  him."  All  its  ordinances  and 
requirements  were  nailed  to  the  cross.  Col.  2:14. 

Old  things  passed  away,  and  all  things  became 
new.  2  Cor.  5 :  17. 

In  the  third  chapter  of  second  Corinthians,  Paul 
compares  the  law  and  the  gospel.  He  says  in  the 
third  verse,  "Forasmuch  as  ye  are  manifestly  de- 
clared to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ  ministered  by  us, 
written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the  liv- 
ing God;  not  in  tables  of  stone,  but  in  fleshy  tables 
of  the  heart. ' ' 

The  law  was  written  on  tables  of  stone,  the  gos- 
pel written  in  the  heart. 

15 


16  THE    UKDINANCES    OF    lliE    BIBLE. 

He  further  says  in  the  sixth  verse,  "Who  also  hath 
made  us  able  ministers  of  the-  new  testament;  not  of 
the  letter,  but  of  the  spirit :  for  the  letter  killeth, 
but  the  spirit  giveth  life.  But  if  the  ministration  of 
death,  written  and  engraven  in  stones,  was  glorious, 
so  that  the  children  of  Israel  could  not  steadfastly 
behold  the  face  of  Moses  for  the  glory  of  his  counte- 
nance ;  which  glory  was  to  be  done  av/ay :  how  shall 
not  the  ministration  of  the  spirit  be  rather  glorious? 
For  if  the  ministration  of  condemnation  be  gloiy, 
much  more  doth  the  ministration  of  righteousness 
exceed  in  glory.  For  even  that  which  was  made 
glorious  had  no  glory  in  this  respect,  by  reason  of 
the  glory  that  excelleth.  For  if  that  which  is  done 
away  was  glorious,  much  more  that  which  remain- 
eth  is  glorious."  2  Cor.  3:  6-11. 

Here  he  speaks  of  the  nature  of  the  law,  which 
had  been  done  away  by  reason  of  something  which 
"excelleth."  To  make  this  more  clear  to  the  mind  we 
will  use  an  illustration.  Suppose  it  is  night,  dark- 
ness has  gathered  around.  An  electric  light  is  shin- 
ing in  our  midst  and  this  light  shines  about  us  so 
brilliantly  that  we  are  enabled  to  do  whatsoever  is 
required  of  us  as  long  as  we  stay  with  the  light. 
But  at  morning-time  when  the  sun  arises  in  all 
its  brilliancy  the  light  is  so  great  that  it  completely 
sweeps  away  all  darkness,  and  not  only  so,  but  so 
far  excels  the  electric  light  that  it  becomes  of  no 
effect.  We  may  try  to  obtain  light  from  it,  but  its 
power  is  completely  gone  and  its  brilliancy  swept 
away  because  of  the  light  which  "excelleth."     Al- 


THE  END  OP  THE  LAW.  li 

though  it  answered  its  purpose  during  the  night- 
time, it  has  no  power  nor  influence  under  the 
blazing  light  of  the  sun.  Just  so  it  is  with  the 
law,  it  was  glorious,  and  answered  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  intended,  but  when  faith  came  and  the 
sun  of  righteousness  shone  forth  in  the  brilliant  rays 
of  the  gospel,  the  glory  so  far  exceeded  the  glory  of 
the  law  that  it  was  completely  swept  away  and  be- 
caine  powerless,  or,  in  other  words,  came  to  an  end. 

There  was  a  complete  change,  "old  things  passed 
away,"  and  all  things  became  new.  The  new  dis- 
pensation took  the  place  of  the  old;  likewise  the  new 
testament,  new  covenant  and  new  life. 

Instead  cf  the  old  sacrifices  and  offerings  as  under 
the  law,  Christ  became  our  sacrifice.  The  apostle 
sums  up  the  whole  matter  after  speaking  of  the 
nature  cf  the  law,  old  life,  and  says:  "Therefore 
if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature:  old 
things  are  passed  away;  behold,  all  things  are  be- 
come new.  And  all  things  are  of  God,  who  hath 
reconciled  us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  hath 
given  to  us  the  ministiy  of  reconciliation."  2  Cor. 
5 :  17, 18. 

He  says,  "And  that  he  died  for  all,  that  they 
which  live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  him  which  died  for  them,  and  rose 
again.  Wherefore  henceforth  know  we  no  man  after 
the  flesh:  yea,  though  we  have  known  Christ  after 
the  flesh,  yet  now  henceforth  know  we  hira  no  more." 
2  Cor.  5:15,16. 

How  were  the  people   of   God  known   before  the 

2 


18  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ?  They  were 
known  "after  the  flesh."  That  is  they  were  known 
as  Jews,  and  in  order  to  trace  the  lineage  of  a  man 
of  (jiod  he  was  traced  through  the  generations  of 
his  ancestry  as  a  Jew.  Ills  father  was  a  Jew,  his 
grandfather  was  a  Jew,  and  those  throughout  the 
line  of  his  ancestry.  But  after  Christ  died  and 
rose  again,  the  children  of  God  were  no  longer 
known  after  the  flesh  or  through  Jewish  blood.  But 
after  this  time  to  trace  a  child  of  God  was  to  trace 
him  to  his  spiritual  birth  or  to  Christ. 

Paul  says,  "Hitherto  have  we  known  Christ  after 
the  flesh,  yet  now  henceforth  know  we  him  no  more." 
Before  his  death  and  resurrection  he  was  known 
as  a  Jew  and  of  Jewish  descent,  but  since  his  resur- 
rection he  is  known  as  the  Son  of  God. 

Since  that  time  the  people  of  God  are  not  known 
as  Jews  after  the  flesh,  but  from  a  spiritual  stand- 
point. "For  he  is  not  a  Jew,  which  is  one  out- 
wardly; neither  is  that  circumcision,  which  is  out- 
ward in  the  flesh:  but  he  is  a  Jew,  which  is  one 
inwardly,  and  circumcision  is  that  of  the  heart, 
in  the  spirit,  and  not  in  the  letter;  whose  praise  is 
not  of  men,  but  of  God."  Rom.  2:  28,  29. 


THE   ORDINANCES   ABOLISHED. 


The  Word  of  God  is  very  clear  and  explicit  con- 
cerning the  ordinances  which  the  people  of  God  were 
to  observe,  and  also  it  makes  plain  when  such  should 
cease  to  be  practised.  The  prophets  foretold  the 
time  when  they  would  be  abolished,  and  after  that 
time  the  strictest  observance  could  not  change  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  nor  bring  them  in  favor  with 
God,  as  a  better  covenant  was  given  with  better 
privileges  and  a  fulfilment  of  better  promises  than 
that  which  formerly  had  been  in  vogue. 

Saul  of  Tarsus  with  all  his  faithful  observance 
of  the  requirements  of  the  law,  with  all  his  zeal 
and  knowledge  to  fulfil  the  same  to  the  very  letter, 
found  himself  the  ''chief  of  sinners"  when  trying  to 
live  under  the  law  after  it  was  abolished.  The  law 
or  ordinances  which  has  been  abolished  is  no  longer 
of  any  effect  or  consequence. 

"Not  as  Moses,  which  put  a  vail  over  his  face, 
that  the  children  of  Israel  could  not  steadfastly  look 
to  the  end  of  that  which  is  abolished:  but  their 
minds  were  blinded:  for  until  this  day  remaineth 
the  same  vail  untaken  away  in  the  reading  of  the 
old  testament;  which  vail  is  done  away  in  Christ. 
But  even  unto  this  day,  when  Moses  is  read,  the  vail 
is  upon  their  heart." 

The  word  "Moses"  here  has  reference  to  the  law, 
which  Paul  says  "is  abolished";  and  those  who  try 
to  live  under  the  teachings  of  the  Old  Testament,  even 

19 


20  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

until  this  day,  are  blinded  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel, 
but  he  says  the  "vail  is  done  away  in  Christ."  "But 
even  unto  this  day,  when  Moses  is  read,  the  vail  is 
upon  their  heart."  2  Cor.  3:13-16. 

At  the  present  time  those  who  try  to  live  under 
the  law  of  ]\Ioses  in  keeping  the  commandments  and 
ordinances,  such  as  the  Mosaic  sabbath,  passover, 
circumcision,  etc.,  have  their  minds  blinded  and  the 
vail  over  their  face.  They  must  learn  that  these 
things  have  been  abolished,  and  turn  to  the  Lord  and 
have  the  vail  taken  from  their  hearts  through  the 
power  of  the  gospel  and  application  of  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ. 


HOW  AND  WHEN  ABOLISHED. 


After  giving  the  ten  commandments  to  the  people; 
and  instructing  them  concerning  what  the  Lord  re- 
quired of  them,  dieses  said:  "Now  these  are  the 
commandments,  the  statutes,  and  the  judgments, 
which  the  Lord  your  God  commanded  to  teach  you, 
that  ye  might  do  them_  in  the  land  whither  ye  go 
to  possess  it. ' '  Deut.  6:1. 

As  long  as  the  Jews  were  considered  the  people  of 
God,  they  were  to  observe  these  things  while  they 
were  in  the  land  throughout  all  their  generations. 
The  same  was  to  continue  "until  the  time  of  reforma- 
tion." Heb.  9:10.  The  bringing  in  of  the  gospel 
brought  about  the  time  of  the  reformation.     "But 


HOW  AND  WHEN  ABOIJSHED.  21 

now  in  Christ  Jesus  ye  who  sometimes  were  far  off 
are  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  For  he  is  our 
peace,  who  hath  made  both  one,  and  hath  broken 
down  the  middle  wall  of  partition  between  us;  hav- 
ing abolished  in  his  flesh  the  enmity,  even  the  law 
of  commandments  contained  in  ordinances;  for  to 
make  in  himself  of  twain  one  new  man,  so  making 
peace;  and  that  he  might  reconcile  both  unto  God 
in  one  body  by  the  cross,  having  slain  the  enmity 
thereby."  Eph.  2:13-16. 

"Blotting  out  the  handwriting  of  ordinances  that 
was  against  us,  which  was  contrary  to  us,  and  took 
it  out  of  the  way,  nailing  it  to  his  cross;  and  having 
spoiled  principalities  and  powers,  he  made  a  shew 
of  them  opanly,  triumphing  over  them  in  it.  Let 
no  man  therefore  judge  you  in  meat,  or  in  drink, 
or  in  respect  of  an  holy  day,  or  of  the  new  moon, 
or  of  the  sabbath  days :  which  are  a  shadow  of  things 
to  come ;  but  the  body  is  of  Christ. ' ' 

These  things  mentioned,  as  Paul  says,  were  only  a 
shadow  of  things  to  come,  and  were  abolished  or 
taken  out  of  the  way,  having  been  nailed  to  the 
cross. 


WHAT  ORDINANCES  WERE  ABOLISHED. 


When  Christ  gave  his  life  upon  the  cross  to  re- 
deem humanity,  he  became  our  sacrifice,  and  other 
sacrifices  and  offerings  no  longer  availed  anything. 
The  dead  works  of  the  law  ceased,  and  faith  in  God 
was  required.  These  offerings  and  sacrifices  "could 
not  make  him  that  did  the  service  perfect,  as  per- 
taining to  the  conscience ;  which  stood  only  in  meats 
and  drinks,  and  divers  washings,  and  carnal  or- 
dinances, impose:^  on  them  until  the  time  of  the  ref- 
ormation." Heb.  9:9,10. 

It  appears  to  be  very  difficult  for  some  to  believii 
that  the  ten  commandments  have  been  abolished, 
but  we  read  in  Dent.  4 :  13  where  God  gave  the 
commandments  to  Moses,  and  Moses  said  to  the 
people,  "And  he  declared  unto  you  his  covenant, 
which  he  commanded  you  to  perform,  even  ten  com- 
mandments; and  he  wrote  them  upon  two  tables  of 
stone."  And  he  further  says,  "The  Lord  made  not 
this  covenant  with  our  fathers,  but  with  us,  even 
us,  who  are  all  of  us  here  alive  this  day."  Deut. 
5:3. 

In  the  third  chapter  of  second  Corinthians  in 
speaking  of  that  which  was  done  away  he  refers  to 
that  which  was  written  in  "tables  of  stone."  And 
in  Eph.  2 :  15  we  read  that  these  commandments  have 
been  abolished  through  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ 
wherein  he  saith,  "Having  abolished  in  his  flesh  the 
enmity,   even  the  law   of   commandments  contained 


fHE  OLD  I'ESTAMENT  AND  THE  NEW.  ^5 

in  ordinances;  for  to  make  in  himself  of  twain  one 
new  man^  so  making  peace." 

The  apostle  further  says  in  Col.  2:  20,  "Wherefore 
if  ye  be  dead  with  Christ  from  the  rudiments  of  the 
world,  why,  as  though  living  in  the  world,  are  ye 
subject  to  ordinances,  .  .  .  after  the  commandments 
;md  doctrines  of  men?" 

The  circumcision  of  the  flesh  is  no  longer  re- 
quired. Rom.  2 :  25-29. 

All  the  ordinances  of  the  law  were  abolished  and 
ceased  with  the  ]\Iosaic  dispensation,  and  since  then 
the  people  of  God  have  lived  under  the  gospel  dis- 
pensation subject  to  its  ordinances  and  the  com- 
mands of  Jesus  Christ. 


THE    OLD   TESTAMENT    AND    THE   NEW. 


Moses  was  the  mediator  of  the  Old  Testament,  and 
Christ  the  mediator  of  the  New  Testament.  "For  if 
the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of  an 
heifer  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the  pur- 
ifying of  the  flesh :  how  much  more  shall  the  blood 
of  Christ,  who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered 
himself  without  spot  to  God,  purge  your  conscience 
from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living  God?  And  for 
this  cause  he  is  the  mediator  of  the  new  testament, 
that  by  means  of  death,  for  the  redemption  of  the 
transgressions  that  were  under  the  first  testament, 
they  which  are  called  might  receive  the  promise  of 


24  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

eternal  inheritance.  For  where  a  testament  is,  there 
must  also  of  necessity  be  the  death  of  the  testator. 

"For  a  testament  is  of  force  after  men  are  dead: 
otherwise  it  is  of  no  strength  at  all  while  the  testa- 
tor liveth.  Whereupon  neither  the  first  testament 
was  dedicated  without  blood.  For  when  Moses  had 
spoken  every  precept  to  all  the  people  according  to 
the  law,  he  took  the  blood  of  calves  and  of  goats,  with 
water  and  scarlet  wool,  and  hyssop,  and  sprinkled 
both  the  book,  and  all  the  people,  saying.  This  is 
the  blood  of  the  testament  which  God  hath  enjoined 
unto  you.  Moreover  he  sprinkled  with  blood  both 
the  tabernacle,  and  all  the  vessels  of  the  ministry. 
And  almost  all  things  are  by  the  laAV  purged  with 
blood;  and  without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  re- 
mission." Heb.  9:13-22. 

"But  in  those  sacrifices  there  is  a  remembrance 
again  made  of  sins  every  year.  Fcr  it  is  not  possible 
that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats  should  take 
away  sins. ' '  Heb.  10 :  3,  4. 

"But  this  man,  after  he  had  offered  one  sacrifice 
for  sins  forever,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
God ;  from  henceforth  expecting  till  his  enemies  be 
made  his  footstool."  Heb.  10:12,13. 

From  the  time  he  gave  himself  as  a  sacrifice  for 
the  people  the  New  Testament  was  in  vogue,  and  the 
Old  passed  away  ami  was  powerless.  2  Cor.  3 :  14, 15. 


THE  OLD  COVENANT  AND  THE  NEW. 


The  Lord  made  a  covenant  with  Moses  and  the 
children  of  Israel  when  he  delivered  them  out  of 
the  hand  of  the  oppressors ;  but  the  prophet  Jeremiah 
tells  of  another  covenant  which  the  Lord  made  with 
Israel.  He  says:  "Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the 
Lord,  that  I  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house 
of  Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah :  not  accord- 
ing to  the  covenant  that  I  made  with  their  fathers 
in  the  day  that  I  took  them  by  the  hand  to  bring 
them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ;  which  my  covenant 
they  broke,  although  I  was  an  husband  unto  them, 
saith  the  Lord :  but  this  shall  be  the  covenant  thai 
I  will  make  with  the  house  of  Israel ;  After  those 
days,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will  put  my  law  in  their 
inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts;  and  will 
be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people. 

"And  they  shall  teach  no  more  every  man  his 
neighbor,  and  every  man  his  brother,  saying.  Know 
the  Lord:  for  they  shall  all  know  me,  from  the  least 
of  them  unto  the  greatest  of  them,  saith  the  Lord :  for 
I  will  forgive  their  iniquity,  and  I  will  remember 
their  sin  no  more."  Jer.  31:31-34. 

In  speaking  of  these  two  covenants  the  apostle 
says,  "But  now  hath  he  obtained  a  more  excellent 
ministry,  by  how  much  also  he  is  the  mediator  of  a 
better  covenant,  which  was  established  upon  better 
promises.  For  if  that  first  covenant  had  been  fault- 
less, then  should  no  place  have  been  sought  fo.*  the 

25 


26  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BlBLE. 

second.  ...  In  that  he  saith,  A  new  covenant,  he 
hath  made  the  first  old.  Now  that  which  decayeth 
and  waxeth  old  is  ready  to  vanish  away."  Heb.  8: 
6,  7, 13. 

' '  Then  verily  the  first  covenant  had  also  ordinances 
of  divine  service  and  a  worldly  sanctuary."  There 
were  gifts  and  sacrifices  offered  that  could  not  make 
him  that  did  the  service  perfect,  as  pertaining  to 
conscience;  which  stood  only  in  meats  and  drinks, 
and  divers  washings,  and  carnal  ordinances,  imposed 
on  them  until  the  time  of  the  reformation."  Heb. 
9 :  9, 10. 

"Above  when  he  said,  Sacrifice  and  offering  and 
burnt-offerings  and  offering  for  sin  thou  wouldest 
not,  neither  hadst  pleasure  therein ;  which  are  offered 
by  the  law;  then  said  he,  Lo,  I  come  to  do  thy 
will,  0  God.  He  taketh  away  the  first,  that  he  may 
establish  the  second.  By  the  which  will  we  are  sanc- 
tified through  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ 
once  for  all."  Heb.  10:8-10. 

"For  after  that  he  had  said.  This  is  the  covenant 
that  I  will  make  with  them  after  those  days,  saith 
the  Lord,  I  will  put  ray  laws  into  their  hearts,  and 
in  their  minds  will  I  write  them;  and  their  sins 
and  iniquities  will  I  remember  no  more.  Now  where 
remission  of  these  is,  there  is  no  more  offering 
for  sin." 


THE  GOSPEL  DISPENSATION. 


The  birth  of  Christ  at  the  little  village  of  Bethle- 
hem was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era,  which  is  gen- 
erally called  the  Christian  era,  or  gospel  dispensa- 
tion. Although  he  did  not  preach  for  a  number  of 
years  after  this  time,  yet  it  was  a  time  of  great  re- 
joicing in  heaven  and  on  earth. 

His  mother  "brought  forth  her  first-born  son,  and 
wrapped  him  in  swaddling  clothes,  and  laid  him  in 
a  manger;  because  there  was  no  room  for  them  in 
the  inn.  And  there  were  in  the  same  country  shep- 
herds abiding  in  the  field,  keeping  watch  over  their 
flock  by  night.  And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came 
upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round 
about  them :  and  they  were  sore  afraid.  And  the 
angel  said  unto  them.  Fear  not :  for,  behold,  I  bring 
you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to 
all  people.  For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the 
city  of  David  a  Savior,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord. 
And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you;  Ye  shall  find  the 
babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lying  in  a  man- 
ger. And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  mul- 
titude of  the  heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 
Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good  will  toward  men. ' '  Luke  2 :  7-14. 

"And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong  in  spirit, 
filled  with  wisdom:  and  the  grace  o^  God  was  upon 
him."  Luke  2:40. 

When  Jesus  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  he  came 
27 


28  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

to  John  the  Baptist  to  be  baptized  in  the  river  Jordan. 
"And  the  Holy  Ghost  descended  in  a  bodily  shape 
like  a  dove  upon  him,  and  a  voice  came  from  heaven, 
which  said,  Thou  art  my  beloved  Son;  in  thee  I 
am  well  pleased."  Luke  3:  22. 

From  this  time  he  went  forth  preaching  until  the 
time  of  his  crucifixion.  During  this  time  as  the  gos- 
pel was  being  ushered  in  the  law  was  as  a  melting 
iceberg  ready  to  vanish  away.  Jesus  said,  "Think 
not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law,  or  the 
prophets:  I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil. 
For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till  heaven  and  earth 
pass  one  jot  cr  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from 
the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled." 

The  law  foi-eshadowed  Christ  and  his  gospel ;  the 
prophets  foretold  of  the  same  and  what  should  come 
to  pass,  and  none  of  the  prophecy  and  requirements 
of  the  law  were  to  pass  by  without  being  fulfilled, 
and  when  he  died  upon  the  cross  the  last  require- 
ment of  the  law  was  fulfilled,  and  was  no  longer  of 
any  effect.  But  when  Jesus  Christ  bowed  his  head 
and  said,  "It  is  finished,"  there  was  nothing  left 
concerning  the  law,  and  the  people  from  that  time 
forth  were  all  under  the  dispensation  of  the  gospel. 

This  dispensation  was  the  opening  of  faith  to  the 
people.  It  was  opened  with  power  and  authority 
from  the  time  that  the  gospel  began  to  be  preached. 
The  devils  were  brought  under  subjection  and  cast 
out.  There  were  no  more  offerings  of  animals  for 
sin.  The  great  sin-offering  had  been  offered,  and 
now  reigns  supreme  over  all  things.     We  read  his 


THE  BAPTISM  OF  JESUS  IN  THE  RIVER  JORDAN. 


JOHN  THE  BAPTIST  AND  HIS  WORK.  31 

words,  "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and 
in  earth."  Mat.  28:18. 

This  dispensation  will  last  to  the  end  of  time, 
and  those  who  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will 
have  the  benefits  of  his  gospel,  the  same  as  did  the 
people  during  the  time  of  the  apostles. 


JOHN  THE  BAPTIST  AND  HIS  WORK. 


The  prophet  Malachi  foretold  the  coming  of  John, 
and  the  Lord  speaking  through  him  said,  "Be- 
hold, I  will  send  my  messenger,  and  he  shall  pre- 
pare the  way  before  me :  and  the  Lord,  whom  ye  seek, 
shall  suddenly  come  to  his  temple,  even  the  messenger 
of  the  covenant,  whom  ye  delight  in :  behold,  he  shall 
come,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." 

The  Lord  sent  his  angel,  who  informed  Zacharias 
and  Elizabeth  that  a  son  should  be  born  unto  them. 
After  he  was  born  Zacharias  said  his  name  was 
John. 

Mark  records  the  circumstance  concerning  him 
saying:  "The  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God;  as  it  is  written  in  the  prophets,  Be- 
hold, I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face,  which 
shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee.  The  voice  of  one 
crying  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  John  did  baptize  in 
the  wilderness,  and  preach  the  baptism  of  repent- 
ance for  the  remission  of  sins. 


32  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

"And  there  went  out  unto  him  all  the  land  of 
Judea,  and  they  of  Jerusalem,  and  were  all  bap- 
tized of  him  in  the  river  of  Jordan,  confessing  their 
sins.  And  John  was  clothed  with  camel's  hair,  and 
with  a  girdle  of  a  skin  about  his  loins;  and  he  did 
eat  locusts  and  wild  honey;  and  preached,  saying, 
There  cometh  one  mightier  than  I  after  me,  the 
latchet  of  whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  stoop 
down  and  unloose.  I  indeed  have  baptized  you  witli 
water:  but  he  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  Jesus  came 
from  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  and  was  baptized  of 
John  in  Jordan.  And  straightway  coming  up  out  of 
the  water,  he  saw  the  heavens  opened,  and  the  Spirit 
like  a  dove  descended  upon  him :  and  there  came 
a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  Thou  art  my  beloved 
Son,  in  Avhom  I  am  well  pleased."  Mark  1: 1-11. 

This  man  was  sent  from  God  and  had  authority 
to  preach  and  baptize.  It  was  of  him  that  was  said, 
"There  was  a  man  sent  from  Cod,  whose  name  was 
John.  The  same  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear  witness 
of  the  Light,  that  all  men  through  him  might  be- 
lieve. He  was  not  that  Light,  but  was  sent  to  bear 
witness  of  that  Light.  That  was  the  true  Light, 
which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world. 
.  .  .  John  bare  witness  of  him,  and  cried,  saying. 
This  was  he  of  whom  I  spake,  lie  that  cometh  after 
me  is  preferred  before  me:  for  he  was  before  me. 
And  of  his  fulness  have  all  we  received,  and  grace 
for  grace. 

"For  the  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and 


'BRING  FORTH  THEREFORE  FRUITS  MEET  FOR 

REPENTANCE. '  'mAT.    3  :  8, 

JOHN  BAPTIZING  IN  THE  RIVER  JORDAN. 


JOHN  THE  BAPTIST  AND  HIS  WORK.  35 

truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ.  .  .  .  And  this  is  the 
record  of  John,  when  the  Jews  sent  priests  and 
Levites  from  Jerusalem  to  ask  him, 

''Who  art  thou? 

"And  he  confessed,  and  denied  not;  but  confessed, 
I  am   not  the   Christ. 

"And  they  asked  him.  What  then?  Art  thou 
Elias  ? 

"And  he  saith,  I  am  not.    . 

"Art  thou  that  prophet? 

"And  he  answered,  No. 

"Then  said  they  unto  him.  Who  art  thou?  that 
we  may  give  an  answer  to  them  that  sent  us.  What 
sayest  thou  of  thyself? 

"He  said,  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the 
wilderness.  Make  straight  the  way  of  the  Lord,  as 
said  the  prophet  Esaias.  And  they  which  were  sent 
were  of  the  Pharisees.  And  they  asked  him,  and 
said  unto  him, 

"Why  baptizest  thou  then,  if  thou  be  not  that 
Christ,  nor  Elias,  neither  that  prophet? 

"John  answered  them,  saying,  I  baptize  with 
water:  but  there  standeth  cne  among  you,  whom  ye 
know  not;  he  it  is,  who  coming  after  me  is  preferred 
before  me.  whose  shoe's  latchet  I  not  worthy  to 
unloose."  John  1:6-27. 

He  was  called  John  the  Baptist.  "In  tho«e  days 
came  John  the  Baptist,  preaching  in  the  wilderness 
of  Judea,  and  saying.  Repent  ye:  for  the  Idngdom 
of  heaven  is  at  hand."  Mat.  3:1,2. 

He   was   faithful   in   his  work,   preached   without 


36  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

compromise,  would  not  baptize  the  Pharisees  and 
Sadducees,  because  they  would  not  repent  nor  meas- 
ure up  to  the  truth.  He  called  them  a  generation 
of  vipers  and  said,  "Bring  forth  fruits  meet  for 
repentance." 

Because  of  his  trueness  to  God  he  was  cast  into 
prison  and  beheaded.  However,  it  can  well  be  said 
of  him,  he  was  obedient  unto  the  Lord,  faithfully 
fulfilling  his  calling  and  performing  his  work  in 
fulfilment  of  the  Word  of  God. 


PREACHING  THE  GOSPEL  OF  THE 
KINGDOM. 


"The  law  and  the  prophets  were  until  John:  since 
that  time  the  kingdom  of  God  is  preached,  and  every 
man  presseth  into  it."  Luke  16:16. 

After  Jesus  was  baptized  in  the  river  Jordan  by 
John  the  Baptist,  he  first  went  into  the  wilderness, 
being  led  there  by  the  spirit,  where  he  was  tempted 
of  the  devil.  Here  he  fasted  forty  days  and  forty 
nights  and  then  the  tempter  came,  but  Jesus  met 
him  with  the  words,  "It  is  written,"  and  not  only 
so,  but  he  tnld  him  what  was  "written,"  rebuked 
him  and  said:  "Get  thee  hence,  Satan:  for  it  is 
written.  Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
him  only  shalt  thou  serve.  Then  the  devil  leaveth 
him,  and,  behold,  angels  came  and  ministered  unto 
him."  Mat.  4:10,11. 

**Now  when  Jesus  had  heard  that  John  was  cast 


PREACHING  THE  GOSPEL  OP  THE  KINGDOM.  37 

into  prison,  he  departed  into  Galilee ;  and  leaving 
Narzareth,  he  came  and  dwelt  in  Capernaum,  which 
is  upon  the  seacoast,  in  the  borders  of  Zabulon  and 
Nephthalim ;  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  The  land  of 
Zabulon,  and  the  land  of  Nephthalim,  by  the  way 
of  the  sea,  beyond  Jordan,  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles; 
the  people  which  sat  in  darkness  saw  great  light; 
and  to  them  which  sat  in  the  region  and  shadow  of 
death  light  is  sprung  up.  From  that  time  Jesus 
began  to  preach,  and  to  say.  Repent :  for  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  at  hand."  Mat.  4:12-17. 

When  he  sent  out  his  twelve  disciples  he  said.  As 
ye  go,  preach,  saying,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at 
hand.  He  told  them  what  they  would  have  to  meet, 
but  said  if  they  shall  deliver  you  up,  take  no  thought 
how  or  what  ye  shall  speak;  for  it  shall  be  given 
you  in  that  same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.  For  it 
is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father 
which  speaketh  in  you.  Mat.  10 :  19,  20. 

Afterwards  he  sent  out  other  seventy  also  into  the 
cities  and  places  where  he  himself  would  come,  and 
gave  them  a  similar  commission  to  that  of  the  twelve, 
and  he  said  to  them,  "Ileal  the  sick  that  are  there- 
in, and  say  unto  them,  The  kingdom  of  God  is  come 
nigh  unto  you.  But  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter, 
and  they  receive  you  not,  go  your  ways  out  into  the 
streets  of  the  same,  and  say,  Even  the  very  dust  of 
your  city,  which  cleaveth  on  us,  we  do  wipe  off 
against  you:  notwithstanding  be  ye  sure  of  this, 
that  the  kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh  unto  you." 


THE  MINISTRY  OF  JESUS. 


Wben  John  the  Baptist  was  baptizing  in  the 
river  Jordan,  he  made  the  people  to  understand  that 
he  was  not  the  Christ,  but  said:  "I  indeed  baptize 
you  with  water  unto  repentance :  but  he  that  conieth 
after  me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose  shoes  I  am  not 
worthy  to  bear:  he  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  fire."  Mat.  3:11. 

"And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  up 
straightway  out  of  the  water:  and,  lo,  the  heavens 
were  opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of  God 
descending  like  a  dove,  and  lighting  upon  him :  and 
lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This  is  my  beloved 
Son,   in  whom   I  am  well  plea.sed."  Mat.   3:16,17. 

After  this  he  was  led  into  the  wilderness,  where 
he  was  tempted  of  the  devil.  He  then  went  into 
Galilee  and  began  his  ministry.  "From  that  time 
Jesus  began  to  preach,  and  to  say,  Repent :  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. ' '  Mat.  4 :  17. 

"And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching  in 
their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  sickness  and 
all  manner  of  disease  among  the  people.  And  his 
fame  went  throughout  all  Syria :  and  they  brought 
unto  him  all  sick  people  that  were  taken  with  divers 
diseases  and  torments,  and  those  which  were  pos- 
sessed with  devils,  and  those  which  were  lunatic,  and 
those  that  had  the  palsy;  and  he  healed  them."  Mat. 
4 :  23,  24. 

3S 


THE     MINISTRY     OF     JESUS.  39 

His  ministry  was  one  of  power  and  authority. 
And  "the  people  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine: 
for  he  taught  them  as  one  having  authority,  and  not 
as  the  scribes."  Mat.  7:28,29. 

His  words  were  so  effectual  that  when  the  officers 
were  sent  to  arrest  him,  they  so  keenly  felt  the  power 
and  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  they  did  not 
take  him,  and  when  asked  their  reasons  for  not  do- 
ing so,  the  officers  answered,  "Never  man  spake  like 
this  man. ' '  John  7  :  46. 

He  met  the  greatest  opposition,  and  endured 
severe  persecutions,  was  buffeted  and  spit  upon, 
and  gave  the  people  to  understand  that  they  were 
not  to  follow  him  for  the  wealth  of  this  world.  He 
said  at  one  time,  "Foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds 
of  the  air  have  nests;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not 
where  to  lay  his  head."  Luke  9:58. 

He  fasted  and  spent  much  time  in  prayer.  His  life 
was  one  of  humility  and  without  sin.  He  set  an 
example  for  others  to  follow.  The  apostle  says,*" For 
even  hereunto  were  ye  called:  because  Christ  also 
suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  ye  should 
follow  his  steps :  who  did  no  sin,  neither  was 
guile  found  in  his  mouth:  who,  when  he  was  reviled, 
reviled  not  again ;  when  he  suff'ered,  he  threatened 
not ;  but  committed  himself  to  him  that  judgeth 
righteously:  who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we  being  dead  to  sins, 
should  live  unto  righteousness:  by  whose  stripes  ye 
v.^ere  healed."  1  Pet.  2:21-24. 

While  he  was  here  on  earth  he  said,  "As  long  as 


40  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

I  am  in  the  world,  I  am  the  light  of  tlie  world." 
John  9 :  5. 

"Then  spake  Jesns  again  nnto  them,  saying,  I  am 
the  light  of  the  woi-ld:  he  that  followeth  me  shall 
not  walk  in  darkness,  bnt  shall  have  the  light  o!" 
life."  John  8:12. 

To  his  followers  he  said,  "Ye  are  the  light  of  1lie 
world.  .  .  .  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men, 
that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your 
Father  which  is  in  heaven."  Mat.  5:  14-16. 

At  one  time  when  the  Jews  marveled  at  his  teach- 
ing Jesus  answered  them,  and  said,  "^My  doctrine  is 
not  mine,  but  his  that  sent  me.  If  any  man  will  do 
his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it 
be  of  God,  or  whether  I  speak  of  myself.  He  that 
speaketh  of  himself  seeketh  his  own  glory :  but  he 
that  seeketh  his  glory  that  sent  him,  the  same  is 
true,  and  no  unrighteousness  is  in  him."  John  7: 
16-18. 


ORDINATION  OF  THE  DISCIPLES. 


Soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  ministry  of  Jesus, 
as  he  was  walking  by  the  sea  of  Galilee,  he  saw  some 
fishermen  casting  a  net  into  the  sea.  "And  he  saith 
unto  them,  Follow  me,  and  I  will  make  you  fishers 
of  men.  And  they  straightway  left  their  nets,  and 
followed  him."  He  meant  by  this  that  he  would 
send  them  forth  to  preach  the  gospel  and  enable  them 


ORDINATION    OF    THE    DISCIPLES.  41 

to  rescue  souls  from  sin.  Some  time  after  this  the 
lime  came  for  him  to  send  forth  some  ministers  into 
the  world  to  preach  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom. 

"And  when  he  had  called  unto  him  his  twelve 
disciples,  he  gave  them  power  against  unclean  spirits, 
to  east  them  out,  and  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness 
and  all  manner  of  disease.  Now  the  names  of  the 
twelve  apostles  are  these :  The  first,  Simon,  who  is 
called  Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother;  James  the 
son  of  Zebedee,  and  John  his  brother;  Philip,  and 
Bartholomew ;  Thomas,  and  Matthew  the  publican ; 
James  the-  son  of  Alphneus,  and  Lebbasus,  whose  sur- 
name was  Thaddffius ;  Simon  the  Canaanite,  and 
Judas  Iscariot,  who  also  betrayed  him.  These  twelve 
Jesus  sent  forth,  and  commanded  them,  saying,  Go 
not  into  the  way  of  the  Gentiles,  and  into  any  city 
of  the  Samaritans  enter  ye  not :  but  go  rather  to  the 
lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel.  And  as  ye  go, 
preach,  saying.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand, 
Ileal  the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead, 
cast  out  devils:  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give. 
Provide  neither  gold,  nor  silver,  nor  brass  in  your 
purses,  nor  scrip  for  your  journey,  neither  two  coats, 
neither  shoes,  nor  yet  staves:  for  the  workman  is 
worthy  of  his  meat.  .  .  .  And  fear  not  them  which 
kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul:  but 
rather  fear  him  which  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul 
and  body  m  nell."  Mat.  10: 1-28. 

It  will  be  observed  that  he  gave  them  the  same 
power  to  cast  out  devils  as  that  which  he  had  ex- 
ercised himself,  also  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness 


42  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

and  all  manner  of  disease.  He  told  them  of  the 
persecutions  that  they  would  receive,  how  they  would 
be  scourged  in  the  synagogue  and  delivered  up  be- 
fore the  rulers,  and  that  they  might  expect  a  similar 
treatment  to  that  of  their  Master.  He  gave  them 
the  power  and  authority  for  their  work  and  sent 
them  out  in  a  way  that  they  would  be  obliged  to 
trust  wholly  in  him ;  not  only  to  convince  them  of 
his  power  and  ability  respecting  their  faith,  but  that 
they  in  this  way  might  be  an  example  of  faith  unto 
others.  They  were  not  even  allowed  a  walking-stick 
at  first.  After  telling  them  of  certain  things  they 
were  not  to  take  with  them  he  said,  "Nor  yet  staves." 

And  again  we  read  he  sent  them  forth  "and  com- 
manded them  that  they  should  take  nothing  for  their 
journey,  save  a  staff  only. ' '  Mark  6 :  8. 

Some  time  after  this  when  they  had  been  thorough- 
ly tested,  and  proved  themselves  true  to  their  calling, 
"He  said  unto  them,  When  I  sent  you  without  purse, 
and  scrip,  and  shoes,  lacked  ye  anything?  And  they 
said.  Nothing.  Then  said  he  unto  them,  But  now, 
he  that  hath  a  purse,  let  him  take  it,  and  likewise  his 
scrip."  Luke  22:35,36. 

They  had  been  tried  and  were  true  and  obedient 
unto  his  word.  Now  he  could  send  them  forth  with 
or  without  money  and  provisions. 

At  one  time  after  giving  them  an  example  of  the 
power  of  his  word,  he  said  unto  them,  "Have  faith 
in  God.  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  whosoever 
shall  say  unto  this  mountain.  Be  thou  removed,  and 
be  thou  cast  into  the  sea ;  and  shall  not  doubt  in  his 


THE   LAST   COMMISSION.  43 

heart,  but  shall  helieve  that  those  things  which  he 
saith  shall  come  to  pass;  he  shall  have  whatsoever  ho 
saith.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  What  things  soever 
ye  desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them, 
and  ye  shall  have  them."  Mark  11 :  22-24. 

Mark  in  speaking  of  them  says,  "And  he  ordained 
twelve  that  they  should  be  with  him,  and  that  he 
might  send  them  forth  to  preach  and  have  power  to 
heal  sicknesses  and  to  cast  out  devils. ' '  They  not  only 
received  the  commission,  but  "they  went  out,  and 
preached  that  men  should  repent.  And  they  cast 
out  many  devils,  and  anointed  with  oil  many  that 
were  sick,  and  healed  them. ' '  Mark  6 :  12, 13. 


THE  LAST  COMMISSION. 


During  the  time  that  Jesus  wa^  with  his  apostles 
he  taught  them  the  things  concerning  his  kingdom, 
and  manifested  his  power  in  their  presence ;  also 
clothed  them  with  power  and  authority  that  they 
might  be  able  to  do  his  bidding.  On  the  night  of  his 
betrayal  he  set  an  example  before  them  and  gave 
them  commanchnents  to  observe.  See  John  13  :  4-17 ; 
Mat.  26:26-28;  Mark  14:22-24;  Luke  22:19,20: 
1  Cor.  11:23-26. 

Then  after  his  death  upon  the  cross  and  his 
resurrection  from  the  tomb,  and  after  having  given 
example  and  command  for  them  to  do  those  things, 
he  told  them  to  go  and  teach  others  all  the  things 


44  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

that  he  had  commanded.  He  appeared  unto  the 
eleven  as  they  were  gathered  together,  "And  he  said 
unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature.  He  that  believeth  and  is 
baptized  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  damned.  And  these  signs  shall  follow  them 
that  believe:  In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils; 
they  shall  speak  with  new  tongues;  they  shall  take 
up  serpents;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it 
shall  not  hurt  them ;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the 
sick,  and  they  shall  recover. ' '  Mark  16 :  15-18. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  "All  power  is  given  unto 
me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Go  ye  therefore,  and 
teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost : 
teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I 
have  commanded  you :  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  Amen."  Mat.  28: 
18-20. 

"So  then  after  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them, 
he  was  received  up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God.  And  they  went  forth,  and  preached 
everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with  them,  and  con- 
firming the  word  with  signs  following.  Amen."  Mark 
16 :  19,  20. 


WHAT  ARE  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT 
ORDINANCES. 


In  writing  to  the  Colossian  brethren  Paul  made 
mention  to  them  concerning  the  ordinances  of  the 
law,  which  he  said  "are  a  shadow  of  things  to  come; 
but  the  body  is  of  Christ.  Let  no  man  beguile  yoa 
of  your  reward  in  a  voluntary  humility  and  worship- 
ing of  angels,  intruding  into  those  things  which  he 
hath  not  seen,  vainly  puffed  up  by  his  fleshly  mind, 
and  not  holding  the  Head,  from  which  all  the  body 
by  joints  and  bands  having  nourishment  ministered, 
and  knit  together,  increaseth  with  the  increase  of 
God.  Wherefore  if  ye  be  dead  with  Christ  from  the 
rudiments  of  the  world,  why,  as  though  living  in  the 
world,  are  ye  subject  to  ordinances,  .  .  .  after  the 
commandments  and  doctrines  of  men?"  He  taught 
them  to  no  longer  be  under  the  ordinances  of  the 
law,  but  to  give  honor  to  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
commands. 

The  New  Testament  ordinances  are  the  religious 
rites  of  the  church  of  God  as  recorded  in  the  New 
Testament,  as  observed  by  Christ  and  his  apostles 
and  enjoined  upon  his  people.  The  first  of  these  is 
baptism.    Jesus  set  the  example. 

"Then  cometh  Jesus  from  Galilee  to  Jordan  unto 
John,  to  be  baptized  of  him. 

"And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  up 
straightway  out  of  the  water:  and,  lo,  the  heavens 
were  opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of 
God  descending  like  a  dove,  and  lighting  upon  him: 

45 


46  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE, 

and  lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This  is  my  be- 
loved Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  Mat.  3:13, 
16,  17. 

Jesus  himself  instituted  baptism  as  now  observed 
by  Christians.  John  3 :  22-30 ;  4 :  12.  He  commanded 
all  believers  on  him  to  be  baptized.  When  he  met 
with  the  eleven  after  his  death  and  resurrection  he 
said  unto  them," Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature.  lie  that  believeth  and 
is  baptized  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not 
shall  be  damned."  Mark  16:15,16. 

"Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost :  teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you:  and,  lo, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.    Amen."  Mat.  28:19,  20. 

He  established  the  ordinance  of  feet-washing.  On 
the  night  of  his  betrayal  he  washed  the  feet  of  his 
disciples  and  instructed  them  to  continue  the  observ- 
ance, giving  them  the  promise  of  a  blessing  for 
their  future  obedience  to  the  same. 

He  said,  "If  I  then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have 
washed  your  feet;  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one 
another's  feet.  For  I  have  given  you  an  example, 
that  ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  servant  is  not  greater 
than  his  lord;  neither  he  that  is  sent  greater  than 
he  that  sent  him.  If  ye  know  these  things,  happy  are 
ye  if  ye  do  them."  John  13 :  14-17. 

r.Ie  also  institute-''  the  Lord's  Supper.     He  took 


WHAT  ARE  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  ORDINANCES.      47 

the  bread  and  brake  it  as  a  representation  of  his 
broken  body,  and  the  cup,  showing  forth  his  blood 
shed  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  after  returning 
thanks  gave  it  to  his  disciples  and  told  them  to  eat 
and  drink  in  remembrance  of  him. 

"And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  unto  them,  saying,  This  is  my  body 
which  is  given  for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance  oi 
me.  Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  saying. 
This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood,  which  is 
shed  for  you."  Luke  22:19,20. 

Many  years  after  this  Paul  in  writing  to  the  Cor- 
inthian church  said:  "For  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  that  which  also  I  delivered  unto  you.  That  the 
Lord  Jesus  the  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed 
took  bread :  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake 
it,  and  said,  Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body,  which  is 
broken  for  you :  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 
After  the  same  manner  also  he  took  the  cup,  when 
he  had  supped,  saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  testament 
in  my  blood :  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  re- 
membrance of  me.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread, 
and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  shew  the  Lord's  death  till 
he  come."  1  Cor.  11:23-26. 

There  are  other  things  enjoined  upon  the  children 
of  God,  which  are  classed  more  as  a  duty  than  an 
ordinance,  nevertheless  are  necessary  and  can  not  be 
classed  as  non-essentials;  such  as  the  holy  kiss, 
lifting  up  holy  hands,  prayer,  fasting,  etc. 

Such  things  as  were  enjoined  upon  the  apostolic 
church,  and  which  Jesus  Christ  commanded  by  ex- 


48  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

ampie  and  otherwise  to  be  observed,  are  still  binding 
upon  th"  church  of  God,  and  will  be  as  long  as  God 
has  a  church  here  upon  earth.  Those  who  oppose 
the  observance  of  these  things  do  it  to  the  detriment 
of  their  souls  in  opposition  to  God  and  his  precious 
Word. 

When  Jesus  Christ  thus  set  an  example  and  gave 
a  commandment  to  his  people,  it  was  not  for  them 
to  honor  its  observance  for  a  short  time,  then  drop 
it,  but  he  meant  for  them  to  be  obedient  unto  his 
word,  and  he  told  his  disciples  to  go  forth  "teaching 
them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you :  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world.  Amen."  Mat.  28:20.  He 
meant  until  the  end  of  the  world  should  his  word 
be  honored  and  his  commandments  fulfilled. 


BAPTISM  AND  WHAT  IT  MEANS. 


Jesus  Christ  shed  his  blood  upon  the  cross  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners.  And  John  says,  "If  we  confess 
our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our 
sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness." 
1  John  1 :  9. 

And  Jesus  says,  "He  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall 
be  damned."  Mark  16:  16. 

Then  a  command  given  to  every  child  of  God  is 
to  be  baptized,  and  this  command  should  be  obeyed. 
While   it   is  not  a  saving  ordinance,  yet   it  is   one 


A  DEATH  SCENE. 


BAP'lISM    AND    WHAT    IT    MEANS.  51 

that  must  be  observed  after  we  are  saved.  Christ  set 
us  the  example  by  himself  being  baptized  in  the  river 
Jordan.  He  was  not  a  sinner,  and  did  not  have  to 
be  baptized  in  order  to  get  salvation.  He  commanded 
his  disciples  to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
gospel,  and  said,  "He  that  believet?h  and  is  baptized 
shall  be  saved."  Mark  16:16. 

"Baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Mat.  28 :  19. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  until  Peter  preaching 
by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost  set  forth  the  Word  of  God  with  such  power 
that  the  people  were  convicted  of  their  sinful  con- 
dition and  cried  out:  "Men  and  brethren,  what  shall 
we  do?  Then  Peter  said  unto  them,  Repent  and  be 
baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Acts  2:37,38. 

Some  get  the  idea  from  this  that  water  washes 
away  the  sins,  but  such  is  not  the  case.  People  are 
baptized  because  they  have  been  cleansed  from  their 
sins,  which  have  been  remitted  through  the  blood  of 
Jesus  by  believing  on  him.  It  is  only  a  ceremonial 
cr  figurative  washing  of  sins;  an  outward  manifes- 
tation or  testimony  of  an  inward  work  already 
wrought  in  the  heart  through  the  blood. 

As  circumcision  under  the  law  followed  natural 
birth,  baptism  under  the  gospel  follows  spiritual 
birth. 

The  ceremonial  performance  concerning  the  cleans- 
ing of  a  leper  as  recorded  in  Lev.  14 : 1-8  is  a  beauti- 


52  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

fill  type  or  representation  of  salvation  and  baptism. 
The  two  birds  typify  Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  leper  was  sprinkled  with  blood  by  the  priest  and 
pronounced  clean,  but  was  afterwards  commanded  to 
"wash  himself  in  water,"  as  a  fulfilment  of  the  law 
because  he  had  been  cleansed. 

In  like  manner  baptism  in  water  is  required  after 
a  person  has  been  cleansed  from  his  sins  by  the  blood 
of  Jesus,  which  is  an  outward  signification  to  the 
people  of  an  inward  cleansing,  and  represents  a  wash- 
ing or  cleansing  only  in  a  figurative  sense.  "Not  the 
putting  away  of  the  filth  cf  the  flesh,  but  the  answer 
of  a  good  conscience  toward  God."  1  Pet.  3:  21. 

It  was  in  this  sense  that  Paul  received  the  washing 
away  of  sins.  lie  had  been  the  chief  of  sinners, 
persecuting  the  church  cf  God,  and  God  struck  him 
with  blindness  and  made  him  to  understand  that  it 
was  JesUi  whom  he  was  persecuting.  Then  he  became 
scrry  and  repented  of  his  evil  doings,  insomuch  that 
when  Ananias  came  to  him  and  said,  "Brother  Saul, 
receive  thy  sight,"  his  eyes  were  opened  and  he 
looked  upon  him.  Saul  was  now  fully  saved.  And 
Ananias  said  to  him,  "Now  why  tarriest  thou?  arise, 
and  be  baptized,  and  wash  away  thy  sins,  calling  on 
the  name  of  the  Lord. ' '  He  was  not  to  have  his  sins 
swept  away  by  the  offering  of  sacrifices  and  obedience 
to  the  law,  as  he  had  believed  during  the  past,  but 
receive  this  by  "calling  en  the  name  of  the  Lord"; 
and  the  baptism  was  only  a  washing  in  a  figurative 
sense. 

To  make  this  point  more  clear  we  refer  to  a  later 


BAPTISM    AND    WHAT    IT    MEANS.  53 

incident  in  the  ministry  of  Peter  in  Acts  10 :  47,  48, 
where  he  said :  ' '  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  that 
these  should  not  be  baptized,  which  have  received  the 
Holy  Ghost  as  well  as  we  ?  And  he  commanded  them 
to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. ' '  Here  were 
persons,  who  not  only  had  their  sins  forgiven,  but 
had  received  the  Holy  Ghost  through  the  sanctifying 
power  and  grace  of  God.  It  would  do  no  good  to 
baptize  a  person  before  his  sins  were  forgiven ;  he 
would  only  go  down  a  dry  sinner  and  come  up  a 
wet  one. 

Simply  sprinkling  or  pouring  water  upon  the  per- 
son is  not  baptism,  but  it  is  to  go  down  into  the 
water  and  be  immersed,  which  represents  a  burial,  as 
the  Word  says:  "Buried  with  him  in  baptism,  where- 
in also  ye  are  risen  with  him  through  the  faith  of 
the  operation  of  God,  who  hath  raised  him  from  the 
dead."  Col.  2:12. 

To  be  baptized  means  to  be  submerged,  buried. 
"Therefore  we  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death :  that  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from  the 
dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also 
should  walk  in  newness  of  life."  Rom.  6:4. 

The  washing  away  of  sins  is  by  the  power  of  God 
through  the  shed  blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  As 
we  read  in  Rev.  1:5,  "Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood." 


WHO  ARE   CANDIDATES   FOR  BAPTISM. 


There  are  many  opinions  concerning  who  are 
proper  candidates  for  baptism,  but  the  Word  of  God 
is  so  plain  on  the  subject  that  there  need  be  no  doubt 
in  the  mind  of  any  one  notwithstanding  the  various 
opinions  of  men. 

When  Jesus  and  his  apostles  came  preaching  the 
gospel  of  the  kingdom,  the  first  thing  they  taught  the 
people  was  to  repent  (f  their  sins,  and  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  forgiveness.  They  then  wer3 
fit  subjects  for  baptism.  Even  John  the  Baptist 
would  not  baptize  people  until  they  had  repented 
and  manifested  the  same  in  their  life.  "When  he 
saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  come  to 
his  baptism,  he  said  unto  them,  O  generation  of 
vipers,  who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come?  Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  meet  for  re- 
pentance :  and  think  not  to  say  within  yourselves, 
We  have  Abraham  to  our  father:  for  I  say  unto  you, 
that  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children 
unto  Abraham. ' '  Mat.  3 :  7-9.  He  required  of  them 
fruits  meet  for  repentance  and  a  change  in  their  life 
before   baptism. 

Jesus  told  his  disciples  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  he 
that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved.  He 
required  believing  first.  On  the  day  of  Pentecost 
when  Peter  was  preaching  and  the  people  began  to 
inquire  what  they  should   do,   Peter  said,  "Repent 

54 


WHO  ARE  CANDIDATES  FOR  BAPTISM.  55 

and  be  baptized. ' '  In  no  place  were  they  commanded 
to  be  baptized  and  then  repent  and  get  right  with 
God.  Baptism  does  not  save  a  person  from  his  sins, 
and  one  is  not  fit  to  be  baptized  until  he  repents  and 
believes  for  forgiveness  of  his  sins;  then  it  is  his 
duty  to  be  baptized. 

We  read  that  some  were  baptized  immediately  after 
repentance  (Acts  2:  38-41),  and  before  they  received 
the  Holy   Ghost. 

"Now  when  the  apostles  which  were  at  Jerusalem 
heard  that  Samaria  had  received  the  word  of  God, 
they  sent  unto  them  Peter  and  John :  who,  when  they 
were  come  down,  prayed  for  them,  that  they  might 
receive  the  Holy  Ghost:  (for  as  yet  he  was  fallen 
on  none  of  them :  only  they  were  baptized  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus).  Then  laid  they  their  hands 
on  them,  and  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost.  Acts  8 : 
14-17. 

There  were  others  who  were  not  baptized  until 
after  they  were  .sanctified  or  received  the  Holy  Ghost. 
' '  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  that  these  should  not  be 
baptized,  which  have  received  the  Holy  Ghost  as  well 
as  we?  And  he  commanded  them  to  be  baptized  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord. ' '  Acts  10 :  47,  48. 

This  scripture  overthrows  the  doctrine  which  for- 
bids water  baptism,  as  here  we  see  that  it  was  re- 
quired after  they  had  received  the  Holy  Ghost.  This 
also  proves  that  it  is  not  a  saving  ordinance,  because 
it  was  required  after  they  were  fully  saved.  It 
would  not  be  Scriptural  to  baptize  a  sinner,  as  his 
heart  would  be  in  the  same  condition  after  the  per- 


56  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

formanee  as  before.  The  baptism  would  not  change 
his  spiritna]  condition  one  iota. 

To  baptize  an  infant  would  not  be  Scriptural,  as 
only  believei-s  are  to  be  baptized,  and  an  infant  is 
not  capable  of  believing  the  Word  of  God;  but  the 
atonement  covers  the  case  of  every  infant,  and  all 
who  are  not  capable  of  believing,  and  in  such  cases 
baptism  is  not  required. 

Those  who  believe  that  baptism  saves  them  gen- 
erally do  not  believe  that  a  person  can  live  free  from 
sin,  but  sin  more  or  less  every  day;  then  according 
to  their  doctrine  such  persons  would  have  to  be  bap- 
tized more  or  less  every  day.  The  better  way  is  to 
learn  what  the  Word  of  God  says  and  obey  it. 


THE  MODE  OF  BAPTISM. 


The  proper  mode  of  baptism  is  a  subject  of  con- 
siderable discussion  among  professing  Christians 
and  religious  teachers ;  but  when  we  turn  to  the  Word 
of  God  and  find  what  it  teaches,  the  whole  matter 
is  open  before  us  clear  and  plain  and  easy  to  be  un- 
derstood. To  baptize  means  immerse,  to  plunge  un- 
der, to  bury,  a  complete  submerging. 

Baptism  as  shown  in  the  New  Testament  repre- 
sents the  death  and  burial  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
and  his  resurrection.  "Know  ye  not,  that  so  many 
of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ  were  bap- 


BUEIED. 


' '  BURIED  WITH  HIM  IN  B^VPTISM. ' '  COL.  2  :  12. 
ACCORDING    TO    THE    SPRINKLER 'S    IDEA. 


THE  MODE  OF  BAPTISM.  61 

tized  into  his  deatli?  Therefore  we  are  buried  with 
him  by  baptism  into  death :  that  like  as  Christ  was 
raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father, 
even  so  we  also  should  walk  in  newness  of  life.  For 
if  we  have  been  planted  together  in  the  likeness  of 
his  death,  we  shall  be  also  in  the  likeness  of  his 
resurrection. ' '  Rom.  6  :  3-5. 

Literal  baptism  in  water  is  an  external  manifesta- 
tion of  the  spiritual  or  internal  work  of  the  heart; 
and  the  baptism  into  Jesus  Christ  or  into  his  death 
being  a  spiritual  work  and  represented  as  a  burial, 
the  baptism  in  water  is  in  like  manner  represented 
by  the  burial ;  and  as  cur  souls  are  inducted  into 
Christ  by  a  burial,  or  submerged  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
in  like  manner  our  bodies  are  buried  in  the  watery 
grave  and  entirely  submerged  or  covered.  Whether 
this  is  done  by  going  down  into  the  water  and  being 
placed  beneath  the  waves  and  being  put  down  be- 
neath its  surface,  or  while  standing  in  the  water 
the  rolling  waves  completely  submerge  or  cover,  or 
whether  the  applicant  is  plunged  into  the  water  that 
is  coming  from  falls  above,  does  not  matter,  so  it 
fulfils  the  representation  of  a  burial  as  set  forth  in 
the  Word  of  God. 

When  Jesus  went  down  into  the  river  Jordan  to  set 
the  example  for  those  who  follow,  who  believe  upon 
him,  he  did  not  go  there  to  have  a  little  water 
sprinkled  upon  him,  or  a  cupful  poured  upon  him, 
but  he  went  down  into  that  water  to  fulfil  the  teach- 


62  THE  ORDINANCES  OP  THE  BIBLE. 

ings  of  the  New  Testament,  that  his  example  mijxht 
be  represented  as  a  burial. 

When  a  man  is  dead  he  is  then  ready  to  be  placed 
in  the  casket  and  prepared  for  burial.  As  his  friends 
look  upon  his  lifeless  form  they  realize  that  he  is  no 
longer  a  pilgrim  in  this  world.  So  it  is  with  the 
Christian,  who  has  been  delivered  out  of  the  king- 
dom of  Satan  into  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  he  is  dead  to  this  world,  as  Jesus  said  in 
his  last  prayer  to  the  Father  concerning  his  disciples: 
' '  I  have  given  them  thy  word ;  and  the  world  hath 
hated  them,  because  they  are  not  of  the  world,  even 
as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  I  pray  not  that  thou 
shouldest  take  them  out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou 
shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil.  They  are  not  of 
the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world."  John  17: 
14-16.  The  one  who  has  believed  upon  Ckrist  and 
becomes  thus  dead  to  the  world  goes  forth  fulfilling 
the  command  of  Jesus  and  is  immersed  in  the  watery 
grave  in  accordance  with  the  words  of  Jesus. 

The  friends  cf  the  man  who  lies  dead  in  the 
casket  follow  him  to  the  grave.  The  casket  is  lowered 
to  the  bottom  of  the  grave,  and  when  everything  else 
is  in  readiness,  some  one  takes  a  handful  of  dirt  and 
sprinkles  it  down  over  the  corpse,  and  pronounces  the 
man  buried.  Would  that  be  an  ideal  of  any  one  of 
common  sense  concerning  the  proper  mode  of  burial  ? 
Surely  not. 

Now  let  us  consider  what  some  people  look  upon  as 
baptism.  Some  one  realizes  himself  a  sinner,  ac- 
cepts Christ  and  learns  from  the  Word  of  God  that 


BURIED. 


' '  BURIED  WITH  HIM  IN  BAPTISM ' '  COL.  2  :  12. 
ACCORDING  TO  THE  IDEA  OP  THOSE  WHO  POUB. 


THE  MODE  OF  BAPTISM.  67 

he  must  be  baptized.  The  minister  says,  It  is  not 
necessary  to  go  to  the  trouble  of  going  to  the  river 
or  going  down  into  a  pool  and  get  wet,  but  all  that 
is  required  is  a  few  drops  of  water  sprinkled  upon 
the  head,  accompanied  by  a  short  ceremony.  The 
applicant  takes  his  seat.  The  minister  applies  a  few 
drops  of  water,  and  the  one  over  whom  the  ceremony 
has  been  performed  believes  that  he  has  been  bap- 
tized; or  in  other  words,  the  Word  of  God  fulfilled 
wherein  it  says,  "Buried  with  him  in  baptism."  Col. 
2:12. 

This  is  no  more  of  a  fulfilment  of  the  command 
of  JesiLs  Christ  to  be  baptized  than  it  was  to  pro- 
nounce the  man  buried  upon  whom  only  a  handful 
of  dirt  was  poured. 

Again  we  turn  to  the  man  in  the  grave  and  take 
up  some  one's  else  theory  of  burying  the  dead. 
Another  man  takes  a  shovel  and  pours  a  shovel  of 
dirt  down  over  the  corpse,  tells  his  friends  the  man 
is  buried,  and  goes  his  way ;  but  this  does  not  seem  to 
satisfy  his  friends,  who  have  a  proper  idea  of  the 
meaning  of  burial. 

On  the  other  hand  we  will  consider  another  view 
of  what  some  people  consider  baptism.  The  minister 
will  take  the  applicant  to  the  altar,  or  to  a  place  of 
water,  and  have  him  kneel  while  he  pours  a  cup  of 
water  on  the  applicant's  head,  as  he  repeats  a  short 
ceremony  and  pronounces  the  man  baptized.  But  j'et 
this  baptism  is  no  nearer  the  ideal,  nor  in  line  with 
the  Word  of  God,  than  was  the  pouring  of  dirt  upon 


68  THE  ORDINANCES  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

the  casket  of  the  dead  man  the  proper  method  of 
burial. 

Returning  again  to  the  grave  of  the  one  who  lies 
in  the  casket,  we  find  men  who  have  a  proper  idea  of 
burial  have  filled  it  full  and  finished  it  in  every  re- 
spect, completely  covering  the  man  who  lies  far  be- 
neath the  surface.  As  their  work  is  finished  every 
one  is  satisfied  that  that  man  is  buried. 

In  like  manner,  as  we  turn  to  the  one  who  has 
been  saved  from  sin  and  follows  the  Word  of  God  in 
the  act  of  baptisin ;  as  he  goes  down  into  the  water, 
whether  in  the  river,  lake  or  pool,  and  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
is  placed  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water  by  th*^, 
act  of  immersion,  it  can  be  truly  said  of  that  man 
that  he  is  "buried  with  him  in  baptism."  Col.  2:  12. 
There  is  no  room  for  quibbling  about  the  matter,  no 
room  for  doubts  or  fears  to  arise,  as  to  whether  or 
not  the  work  has  been  properly  performed.  It  is 
according  to  the  teachings  of  the  Word  of  God  and 
the  example  of  Jesus  himself. 


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BURIED, 


'BURIED  WITH  IllM  IN  BAPTISM"  COL.  2:  12. 


TRIUNE  BAPTISM. 


There  are  people  who  believe  that  the  only  mode 
of  baptism  is  immersion,  but  because  Jesus  in  his  last 
commission  to  his  disciples  said,  "Go  ye  therefore 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,"  they  conclude  that  they  must  be  buried  in 
the  watery  grave  three  times  in  order  to  fulfil  this 
scripture.  But  this  is  only  overdoing  the  matter. 
It  is  just  as  unnecessary  as  it  would  be  to  take  a 
dead  man  and  put  him  in  the  grave,  and  after  cover- 
ing him  up  then  take  him  up  and  repeat  the  act  until 
he  had  been  buried  three  times. 

It  would  seem  ridiculous  for  a  man  to  go  into  the 
business  house  of  the  firm  known  as  Smith,  Jones  & 
Brown  and  purchase  $10.00  worth  of  goods  of  ]\Ir. 
Smith  and  pay  him  for  them ;  then  in  order  to  be 
sure  the  goods  are  properly  bought  take  them  to 
Mr.  Jones  of  the  same  firm  and  say,  Mr.  Jones,  I 
bought  these  goods  of  Mr.  Smith,  now  I  want  to  pur- 
chase them  from  you,  as  you  belong  to  the  same 
firm,  and  I  want  to  be  sure  and  have  it  done  right 
and  know  that  I  have  purchased  them  in  a  business- 
like manner.  He  then  takes  them  to  Mr.  Brown  and 
tells  him  how  he  has  bought  the  goods  of  Mr.  Smith 
and  Mr.  Jones  and  now  desires  to  complete  the  pur- 
chase by  purchasing  them  from  him.  They  would 
surely  think  such  a  man  was  deranged  or  very  ignor- 

73 


74  THE  ORDINANCES  OP  THE  BIBLE. 

ant  concerning  business,  as  what  is  purchased  from 
one  member  of  the  firm  is  purchased  from  the  entire 
firm,  as  the  three  make  up  the  one  firm,  and  to  do 
business  with  one  is  to  do  business  with  all  of  them, 
and  does  not  require  three  purchases. 

'J'he  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  make  up  the 
heavenly  firm,  and  business  done  with  either  one  is 
done  in  the  firm  name  of  all  three,  and  it  only  takes 
one  burial  or  baptism  to  baptize  in  the  name  of  all 
three. 

Furthermore  those  who  believe  and  practise  triune 
baptism  generally  take  their  applicants  into  the  water 
and  have  them  kneel  down  in  the  water,  which  comes 
up  pi'obably  to  their  waist,  then  as  they  repeat  the 
ceremony  they  plunge  their  head  and  the  remainder 
of  their  body  under  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  rais<3 
their  head  and  put  it  under  again  in  the  name  of 
the  Son,  and  in  like  manner  the  third  time  in  the 
name  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  thus  the  lower  part  of  the 
body  is  buried  once  and  the  upper  part  three  times. 

It  would  be  like  taking  the  dead  man  mentioned 
who  was  buried  and  pulling  his  head  out  of  the 
grave  and  putting  it  back,  and  repeating  until  he  had 
been  buried  three  times.  And  again  they  generally 
baptize  face  foremost,  claiming  that  it  is  to  be  done 
in  the  likeness  of  Christ's  death,  because  he  bowed 
his  head  upon  the  cross  and  died.  But  we  read  in 
Rom.  6:5,  "For  if  we  have  been  planted  together 
in  the  likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall  be  also  in  the 
likeness  of  his  resurrection." 

The  tenth  verse  explains  the  likeness  of  his  death, 


PURCHASING  GOODS  FROM  THE  FIRM  OP 
SMITH   JONES  &  BROWN. 


SPRINKLING.  77 

* '  For  in  that  he  died,  he  died  unto  sin  once :  but  in 
that  he  liveth,  he  liveth  unto  God. ' '  The  death  which 
he  died  was  unto  sin,  and  in  order  for  us  to  imi- 
tate the  likeness  of  his  death  we  must  die  to  sin; 
as  he  says  in  the  eleventh  verse,  "Likewise  reckon  ye 
also  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

The  action  in  baptism  here  has  nothing  to  do  with 
that  part  of  it,  as  the  baptism  here  has  no  reference 
to  his  bowing  his  head  upon  the  cross.  When  we 
realize  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  agree  in  one, 
and  make  up  the  same  firm,  we  can  realize  that  when 
the  apostles  baptized  as  is  recorded  of  them,  and  re- 
peated the  words,  "The  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost,"  or,  "In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,"  or, 
*'In  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  that  it  was  in  accord- 
ance with  the  teachings  of  Christ. 


SPRINKLING. 


Because  of  false  teaching  and  misapplication  of 
the  Word  of  God  many  have  been  deceived  concern- 
ing baptism,  believing  that  it  does  not  matter  whether 
a  person  is  immersed,  sprinkled  or  poured  upon  in 
fulfilment  of  the  command  of  Jesus.  However,  it  is 
generally  the  case  among  religious  teachers,  who  set 
forth  the  idea  of  sprinkling,  that  ihey  are  not  will- 
ing to  obey  the  Word  of  God  in  taking  the  applicant 
into  the  water,  and  they  misapply  the  words  of  the 


78  THE  ORDINANCES  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

prophet,  the  words  of  Paul  and  others,  in  order  to 
justify  themselves  in  their  teachini^c. 

The  Lord  speaking  through  the  prophet  Ezekiel 
in  making  mention  of  the  time  of  the  gospel  dispen- 
sation said:  "Then  will  I  sprinkle  elean  water  upon 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean:  from  all  your  filtliiness, 
and  from  all  your  idols,  will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new 
heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I 
put  within  you:  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart 
out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of 
flesh.  And  I  will  put  my  spirit  within  you,  and 
cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep 
my  judgments,  and  do  them."  Ezek.  36:25-27. 

And  Paul  said  in  Ileb.  10:22,  "Let  us  draw  near 
with  a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having 
our  hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience,  and 
our  bodies  washed  with  pure  water."  And  again  in 
Heb.  12:24,  "And  to  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new 
covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speak- 
eth  better  things  than  that  of  Abel." 

In  these  places  sprinkling  or  being  sprinkled  does 
not  refer  to  the  act  of  being  sprinkled  with  literal 
water  in  the  act  of  baptism,  as  in  one  place  it  says, 
"The  heart  is  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience;" 
"The  blood  of  sprinkling;"  "Sprinkling  clean  water 
upon  you ; "  "  Washed  with  pure  water, ' '  etc.  These 
have  reference  to  the  Word  and  the  cleansing  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ.  "Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood."  Rev.  1 :  5. 

It  is  the  same  water  of  which  Christ  spoke  to  the 
woman  at  the  well  and  said  unto  her,  "Whosoever 


SPRINKLING.  79 

drinketh  of  thia  water  shall  thirst  again:  but  who- 
soever drinketh  of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him 
shall  never  thirst;  but  the  water  that  I  shall  give 
him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into 
everlasting  life. ' '  John  4 :  13, 14. 

No  place  in  the  New  Testament  does  it  teach  that 
a  person  should  be  baptized  by  sprinkling  water 
upon  him  in  order  to  fulfil  the  command  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Neither  Jesus  nor  his  disciples  baptized  any 
of  the  people  by  sprinkling,  nor  gave  command  for 
such  to  be  done. 

As  a  plea  for  sprinkling  instead  of  immersion  some 
have  the  flimsy  argument  that  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  have  baptized  the  great  numbers  that 
were  saved  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  and  shortly  after- 
wards for  a  lack  of  time  and  water,  and  that  in  many 
of  the  places  in  the  land  of  Palestine  and  where  the 
gospel  was  then  preached  there  were  no  rivers  and 
not  sufficient  water  to  baptize  by  immersion.  That 
especially  in  the  summer  seasons  the  rivers  were  dry, 
and  at  Philippi  there  was  no  body  of  water  near 
enough  to  baptize  the  jailer  the  night  of  his  conver- 
sion. There  are  scores  of  other  flimsy  excuses,  which 
people  find  who  are  not  willing  to  be  obedient  unto 
the  words  of  the  Lord  and  follow  in  the  footsteps  of 
our  Savior.  But  the  Word  of  God  makes  these 
things  all  plain  and  overthrows  every  false  way  by 
setting  forth  the  truth. 

Again  some  wko  seek  to  do  away  with  water  bap- 
tism altogether  have  some  of  the  same  excuses  and 
also  claim  that  after  Christ  was  baptized  and  the 


80  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

Holy   Ghost  was   given,   all   the  baptism  mentioned 
was  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

We  will  now  notice  a  few  points  concerning  bap- 
tism in  water,  having  heretofore  shown  that  the  bap- 
tism taught  in  the  Word  of  God  was  a  burial.  We 
will  take  some  cf  the  examples  during  the  time  of 
Jesus  and  his  apostles. 

John  the  Baptist  was  baptizing  in  the  river 
Jordan.  Mat.  3:6. 

"Because  there  was  much  water  there:  and  they 
came,  and  were  baptized."  John  3:23. 

Had  he  wished  to  sprinkle  them  he  could  doubt- 
less have  obtained  a  little  water  without  going  to  the 
trouble  of  going  to  the  river  Jordan. 

Jesus  was  baptized  in  the  river  Jordan  and  we 
read  that  he  "went  up  straightway  out  of  the 
water."  Mat.  3:13-16. 

After  these  things  came  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
into  the  land  of  Judea;  and  there  he  tarried  with 
them,  and  baptized. ' '  John  3  :  22. 

"When  therefore  the  Lord  knew  how  the  Phari- 
sees had  heard  that  Jesus  made  and  baptized  more 
disciples  than  John,  (Though  Jesus  himself  bap- 
tized not,  but  his  disciples,)  he  left  Judea,  and  de- 
parted again  into  Galilee. ' '  John  4 : 1-3.  We  see 
here  that  after  Jesus  was  baptized  during  the  time 
of  his  ministry,  he  and  his  disciples  continued  bap- 
tizing the  people. 

After  his  death  and  resurrection  and  before  his 
ascension  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "Go  ye  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name 


SPRINKLING.  81 

of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy- 
Ghost  :  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatso- 
ever I  have  commanded  you. ' '  Mat.  28 :  19,  20. 

Would  he  have  given  such  a  command  at  this 
time,  had  he  not  intended  that  they  should  be 
obedient?  This  did  not  mean  Holy  Ghost  baptism, 
as  they  were  not  commanded  to  baptize  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  but  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  also 
of  the  Father  and  Son. 

On  the  day  of  Pentecost  Peter  understood  this, 
and  while  he  was  preaching  to  the  people  they  were 
pricked  in  their  hearts  and  said:  "Men  and  breth- 
ren, what  shall  we  do?  Then  Peter  said  unto  them, 
Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and 
ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Had 
he  referred  only  to  spiritual  baptism  he  would  have 
said,  Repent  and  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

To  further  make  this  clear  to  any  doubtful  mind 
we  may  read  what  Peter  afterwards  said  concerning 
the  Gentiles  who  had  believed  while  Peter  was 
preaching. 

' '  Then  answered  Peter,  Can  any  man  forbid  water, 
that  these  should  not  be  baptized,  which  have  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Ghost  as  well  as  we?  and  he  com- 
manded them  to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  Acts  10:47,48. 

On  the  day  of  Pentecost  he  told  the  people  of 
their  sins  and  that  they  must  repent  and  be  bap- 
tized and  they  would  afterwards  receive  the  gift  of 

the  Holy  Ghost.     But  here  were  some  who  had  al- 
6 


82  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

ready  received  the  Holy  Ghost  but  had  not  yet  been 
baptized,  and  Peter  gave  the  commandment  for  them 
to  be  obedient  on  that  line. 

On  the  day  of  Pentecost  there  were  the  twelve 
apostles,  and  the  seventy,  and  probably  other  min- 
istei-s,  who  could  in  a  very  short  time  baptize  all  who 
were  saved.  As  to  there  being  a  lack  of  water  in 
Jerusalem,  we  read  of  no  famine  on  that  line  at 
that  time.  And  really  people  could  not  live  in 
cities  or  find  water  for  their  herds  and  flocks  as 
they  used  to  have  in  that  country  if  there  was  not 
plenty  of  water.  But  where  there  are  as  many  pools 
as  there  were  in  those  ancient  cities,  there  would  be 
no  lack  on  that  line. 

I  hav2  visited  state  prisons,  where  preachers  gen- 
erally sprinkle,  if  they  undertake  to  baptize  at  all, 
those  who  profess  to  be  saved.  As  the  Word  of 
God  went  forth  and  some  of  them  received  a  real 
experience  of  salvation  they  desired  to  be  immersed. 
It  took  only  a  short  time  to  arrange  a  suitable  place 
in  a  tank  in  the  laundry  rcom,  where  I  have  seen 
them  at  various  times  baptized,  and  had  the  privilege 
myself  of  baptizing  some  by  immersion  in  fulfil- 
ment of  the  Word  of  God.  There  was  no  famine  of 
water  even  within  the  prison  walls. 

Some  bring  forth  the  same  objection  concerning 
the  jailer  at  Philippi.  It  is  not  likely  that  they  would 
have  had  any  trouble  in  getting  plenty  of  water 
there,  as  there  was  an  abundance  of  water.  We  read 
in  Acts  16 :  13  that  there  was  a  river  there.  History 
tells   that    it   was   a   "deep"    river.      And   in   Acts 


SPRINKLING.  83 

20 : 6  we  read  concerning  one  of  Paul 's  visits  at 
that  place,  "And  we  sailed  away  from  Philippi." 
It  was  at  this  place  that  Lydia  and  her  household 
were  baptized,  she  having  heard  the  Word  preached 
as  they  were  by  the  "riverside."  Acts  16: 13-15. 

After  this  followed  the  conversion  of  the  jailer, 
who  said  to  them,  after  he  brought  them  out  of  the 
jail,  ' '  Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  And  they 
said,  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved,  and  thy  house."  Acts  16:30,31. 
Then  Paul  and  Silas  preached  to  "all  that  were  in 
the  house."  After  they  preached  to  them  the  jailer 
"took  them  the  same  hour  of  the  night,  and  washed 
their  stripes;  and  was  baptized,  he  and  all  his, 
straightway. ' ' 

Had  they  only  sprinkled  them  they  would  not  have 
taken  them  some  place  out  of  the  house.  Then  he 
came  into  the  house.  "And  when  he  had  brought 
them  into  his  house,  he  set  meat  before  them,  and  re- 
joiced, believing  in  God  with  all  his  house."  Acts 
16 :  34. 

It  is  said  by  some  that  baptism  ceased  with  the 
twelve  apostles  and  no  one  administered  it  but  them. 
Paul  said  to  the  Corinthians,  "Is  Christ  divided? 
Was  Paul  crucified  for  you?  or  were  ye  baptized  in 
the  name  of  Paul  ?  I  thank  God  that  I  baptized  none 
of  you,  but  Crispus  and  Gains;  lest  any  should  say 
that  I  had  baptized  in  mine  own  name.  And  I  bap- 
tized also  the  household  of  Stephanas:  besides,  I  know 
not  whether  I  baptized  any  other.  For  Christ  sent 
me  not  to  baptize,  but  to  preach  the  gospel :  not  with 


84  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

wisdom  of  words,  lest  the  cross  of  Christ  should  be 
made  of  none  effect."  1  Cor.  1:13-17. 

At  this  place  there  had  arisen  considerable  division. 
After  Paul  and  others  had  preached  there  some  were 
for  one  preacher  and  some  for  another,  and  because 
of  this  division  Paul  told  them  he  was  glad  that  he 
had  only  baptized  a  few  of  them,  and  he  named  them 
as  far  as  he  could  remember.  No  doubt  there  were 
many  others  baptized  at  Corinth  during  that  series 
of  meetings  which  Paul  held  while  there,  but  all 
except  those  named  by  Paul  were  doubtless  baptized 
by  other  meml^ers  of  his  company,  as  he  generally 
had  one  or  more  ministers  traveling  with  him.  It  is 
often  the  case  where  ministers  travel  together  that 
those  who  do  the  most  preaching  do  the  least  bap- 
tizing; not  that  it  is  not  right  for  them  to  baptize, 
but  the  weight  of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  is 
more  abundantly  laid  upon  some  than  others,  and  the 
others  can  do  the  baptizing,  and  thus  relieve  the 
one  who  has  the  greater  amount  of  preaching  to  do. 
When  speaking  that  he  did  not  know  whether  he  had 
baptized  any  others  or  not,  he  was  speaking  directly 
of  the  church  at  Corinth,  because  he  did  baptize  at 
other   places. 

In  the  nineteenth  chapter  of  Acts  we  read  of  where 
Paul  went  to  Ephesus  and  there  found  some  disciples, 
and  he  instructed  them  concerning  believing  on  Jesus 
Christ  and  receiving  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  "when 
they  heard  tliis,  they  were  baptized  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  And  when  Paul  had  laid  his  hands 
upon  them,  the  Holy   Ghost  came  on  them."  Acts 


POURING.  85 

19 :  5,  6.    He  baptized  Lydia,  the  jailer  and  his  house- 
hold, and  others. 

When  we  read  in  the  Word  of  God  and  learn  how 
Jesus  was  baptized,  thus  setting  the  example  for  us, 
and  that  he  taught  his  followers  to  be  obedient, 
there  need  be  no  question  as  to  the  proper  mode. 
The  examples  given  in  the  New  Testament  of  bap- 
tizing believers  were  most  always  immediately  after 
they  were  saved,  and  it  should  be  the  same  to-day. 


POURING. 


Another  so-called  mode  of  baptism  is  that  of  pour- 
ing water  upon  the  applicant.  But  as  immersion  is 
the  only  mode  set  forth  in  the  New  Testament,  which 
represents  a  burial,  the  only  way  in  which  pouring 
water  upon  the  applicant  could  fulfil  the  Word  of 
God  would  be  where  there  was  a  sufficient  amount 
of  water  to  completely  submerge  or  cover  the  one 
who  was  to  be  baptized ;  or,  in  other  words,  for  the 
water  to  come  down  in  such  a  manner  as  to  com- 
pletely bury  him. 

Some  speak  of  what  the  prophet  said  would  take 
place  in  the  gospel  dispensation  wherein  he  said, 
"It  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  saith  God, 
I  will  pour  out  of  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,"  etc.  Acts 
2 :  17.  We  find  that  when  that  day  came  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  "filled  all  the  house  where  they  were 
sitting.  .  .  .  And  they  were  all  filled  with  the 
Holy  Gh03t."  Acts  2:2-4. 


86  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

If  water  can  be  poured  out  so  freely  "as  to  fill 
all  the  house"  then  the  pourin*?  might  answer  the 
purpose.  Otherwise  it  would  not  be  baptism  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  connnand  of  Jesus  Christ. 


INFANT  BAPTISM. 


No  place  in  the  Word  of  God  does  it  teach  infant 
baptism,  Christ  never  commanded  it  nor  practised 
it,  neither  did  his  disciples.  There  are  some  who 
believe  that  it  is  intimated  where  the  man  and  his 
household  were  baptized,  but  in  none  of  these  places 
does  it  make  any  mention  of  infants  or  children  being 
baptized.  In  speaking  of  household  was  meant  the 
family,  kinsmen,  and  probably  servants,  all  of  whom 
were  capable  of  believing,  and,  as  in  case  of  the  jailer, 
after  they  were  baptized  they  rejoiced,  believing  in 
God  with  all  their  house. 

None  of  those  who  are  incapable  of  repenting  and 
believing  are  proper  applicants  for  baptism.  Peter 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost  told  the  people  to  repent 
and  be  baptized.  Acts  2 :  38.  The  last  commission 
of  Jesus  to  his  apostles  was  to  baptize  believers. 
He  said,  "lie  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned." 

An  infant  is  not  capable  of  believing  the  Word  of 
God.  But  the  atonement  covers  its  case.  There- 
fore it  is  not  according  to  the  teaching  of  the  Word 
of  God  to  administer  baptism  to  infants. 


REBAPTISM. 

Another  point  of  consideration  is  that  of  rebap- 
tism.  When  people  hear  the  Word  of  God  preached 
according-  to  the  New  Testament,  those  who  have 
been  baptized  by  sprinkling,  pouring  or  any  other 
unscriptural  method  find  it  necessary  to  be  baptized ; 
although  this  is  not  really  rebaptism,  as  they  had 
not  been  baptized  before  according  to  the  Word 
of  God. 

But  there  are  those  who  have  been  saved  and  bap- 
tized according  to  the  Word  of  God,  who  afterwards 
fall  into  sin  and  live  a  life  of  sin  and  wickedness 
for  some  time,  after  which  they  come  to  the  Lord 
confessing  their  sins  and  are  again  saved  through  the 
precious  blood  of  Jesus  as  at  the  beginning. 

It  is  necessary  that  such  persons  be  baptized  again, 
because  they  went  into  open  sin  and  wickedness  and 
their  life  before  the  world  was  known  as  that  of  a 
sinner;  but  where  some  one  is  merely  overtaken  by 
the  enemy  and  has  not  gone  into  public  sin  and 
wickedness,  we  do  not  understand  that  rebaptism  is 
required  under  such  circumstances. 

People  who  have  been  baptized  in  sectism  by  a 
preacher  whose  only  authority  to  baptize  and  preach 
was  from  the  denomination  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  who  did  not  believe  in  living  free  from  sin,  and 
was  not  walking  in  the  light  of  the  Word  of  God,  and 
according  to  the  Word  would  not  be  a  proper  person 

87 


bo  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

to  administer  baptism — people  who  have  been  bap- 
tized under  sneh  circumstances  would  undoubtedly 
feel  led  to  be  baptized  by  a  holy  man.  But  Avhere 
the  applicant  was  saved,  and  the  minister  called  of 
God  to  preach,  and  was  Avalkinti;  in  all  the  light  so 
far  as  he  understood  it,  living  free  from  sin,  even 
though  neither  the  applicant  ncr  the  one  administer- 
ing baptism  had  the  full  light  on  the  church  question, 
God  would  undoubtedly  honor  the  observance. 


THE  PASSOVER. 


The  Pas.«!Over  is  a  Jewish  ordinance  instituted  at 
the  time  of  the  deliverance  of  the  children  of  Israel 
out  of  Egyptian  bondage,  at  which  time  a  lamb  was 
to  be  slain  and  eaten  in  accordance  with  the  directions 
which  the  Lord  instructed  Moses  to  give  unto  the 
people.  It  was  a  type  of  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ, 
who  is  represented  as  a  lamb  slain  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world.  It  is  called  the  Lord's  passover. 
Ex.   12:11. 

And  Moses  said  to  the  children  of  Israel,  "And 
this  day  shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial ;  and  ye 
shall  keep  it  a  feast  to  the  Lord  throughout  your 
generations;  ye  shall  keep  it  a  feast  by  an  ordinance 
forever.  .  .  .  And  ye  shall  observe  the  feast  of 
unleavened  bread ;  for  in  this  selfsame  day  have  I 
brought  your  armies  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt :  there- 


THE  PASSOVER,  89 

fore  shall  ye  observe  this  day  in  your  generations  by 
an  ordinance  forever. ' '  Ex.  12  :  14, 17. 

Because  it  is  here  stated  that  it  is  to  be  observed 
as  a  feast  by  an  ordinance  forever  throughout  all  the 
generations,  there  are  some  i)eople  to-day  who  still 
continue  the  same;  but  when  it  is  properly  under- 
stood, all  is  clear  and  plain. 

By  turning  to  the  first  chapter  of  Matthew  in  the 
seventeenth  verse  we  read :  "  So  all  the  generations 
from  Abraham  to  David  are  fourteen  generations; 
and  from  David  until  the  carrying  away  into  Babylon 
are  fourteen  generations;  and  from  the  carrying 
away  into  Babylon  unto  Christ  are  fourteen  gen- 
erations. ' ' 

We  find  that  with  the  Jews,  who  were  the  nation 
of  God's  people,  their  generations  ceased  with  Christ, 
and  since  Christ  died  and  rose  again,  we  "henceforth 
know  no  man  after  the  flesh:  yea,  though  we  have 
known  Christ  after  the  flesh,  yet  now  henceforth 
know  we  him  no  more. ' '  2  Cor.  5 :  16.  Before  his 
death  and  resurrection  the  Jews  by  a  literal  birth 
were  known  as  the  people  of  God,  and  Christ  was 
known  as  a  Jew;  but  since  his  death,  he  is  known 
as  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  people  of  God  are  known 
as  his  children  through  the  spirit,  and  not  by  natural 
or  fleshly  birth. 

And  since  that  time  Paul  says,  "He  is  not  a  Jew, 
which  is  one  outwardly;  neither  is  that  circumcision, 
which  is  outward  in  the  flesh :  but  he  is  a  Jew,  which 
is  one  inwardly;  and  circumcision  is  that  of  the 
heart,   in  the  spirit  and  not  in   the   letter;   whose 


90  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

praise  is  not  of  men,  but  of  God. ' '  Rom.  2 :  28,  29. 

As  long  as  the  Jews  as  a  nation  were  the  people 
of  God  throughout  their  generations  they  observed 
the  feast  of  the  passover,  but  at  the  death  of  Jesus 
Christ  this  ceased,  and  Paul  says,  "Purge  out  there- 
fore the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may  be  a  new  lump, 
as  ye  are  unleavened.  For  even  Christ  our  passover 
is  sacrificed  for  us;  therefore  let  us  keep  the  feast, 
not  with  old  leaven,  neither  with  the  leaven  of 
malice  and  wickedness;  but  with  the  unleavened 
bread  of  sincerity  and  truth. ' '  The  bread  to  be  used 
was  no  longer  the  natural  unleavened  bread,  but  that 
of  "sincerity  and  truth." 

Christ  having  been  slain  has  become  our  passover; 
therefore  we  do  not  keep  the  "Jews'  passover" 
(John  11:  55),  but  follow  the  commandments  of  him 
who  "after  he  had  offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins  for- 
ever, sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  God. ' '  Heb.  10 : 
12.  He  became  our  sacrifice,  and  is  "the  lamb  of 
God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  John 
1:29. 


COMMUNION  OR  LORD'S  SUPPER. 


On  the  night  of  his  betrayal  as  Jesus  and  his  dis- 
ciples were  eating  the  passover  supper,  he  instituted 
an  ordinance  for  them  to  observe  after  his  death,  and 
for  them  to  teach  the  people  to  do  likewise.  "And 
his  disciples  went  forth,  and  came  into  the  city, 
and  found  as  he  had  said  unto  them :  and  they  made 
ready  the  passover.     And  in  the  evening  he  cometh 


COMMUNION    CR    LCKD's    SUPPER.  91 

with  the  twelve.  And  as  they  sat  and  did  eat,  Jesus 
said,  Verily  I  say  unto  yon,  One  of  you  which  eateth 
witli  me  shall  betray  me.  And  they  began  to  be 
sorrowful,  and  to  say  unto  him  one  by  one.  Is  it  I '! 
and  ancther  said.  Is  it  I?  And  he  answered  and  said 
unto  them.  It  is  one  of  the  twelve,  that  dippeth  with 
me  in  the  dish.  The  Son  of  man  indeed  goeth,  as  it 
is  written  of  him :  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the 
Son  of  man  is  betrayed!  good  were  it  for  that  man 
if  he  had  never  been  born. 

"And  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  to  them,  and  said, 
Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body.  And  he  took  the  cup, 
and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them : 
and  they  all  drank  of  it.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
This  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testament,  which  is 
shed  for  many.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  drink 
no  more  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  that  day  that 
I  drink  it  new  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

"And  when  they  had  sung  an  hymn,  they  went  out 
into  the  mount  of  Olives."  Mark  14:  16-26. 

Matthew  says,  "And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus 
took  bread,  and  blessed  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  dis- 
ciples, and  said,  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body.  And  he 
took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them, 
saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it;  for  this  is  my  blood  of 
the  new  testament,  which  is  shed  for  many  for  the 
remission  of  sins."  Mat.  26:26-28. 

"And  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat  down,  and 
the  twelve  apostles  with  him.  And  he  said  unto  them. 
With  desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with 


92  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBliE. 

you  before  I  suffer:  for  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not 
any  more  eat  thereof,  until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the 
kingdom  of  God.  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  said,  Take  this,  and  divide  it  among  your- 
selves: for  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  drink  of  the 
fruit  of  the  vine,  until  the  kingdom  of  God  shall 
come. 

"And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks,  and 
brake  it,  and  gave  unto  them,  saying.  This  is  my 
body  which  is  given  for  you :  this  do  in  remembrance 
of  me.  Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  say- 
ing, This  cup  is  the  new  testament  of  my  blood, 
which  is  shed  for  you."  Luke  22:14-20. 

Paul  in  speaking  to  the  Corinthian  brethren  said, 
''The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  The  bread  which 
we  break,  is  it  not  the  communion  of  the  body  of 
Christ?  For  we  being  many  are  one  bread."  1  Cor. 
10:16,17. 

Again  he  said,  "For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
that  which  also  I  delivered  unto  you.  That  the  Lord 
Jesus  the  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed  took 
bread:  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it, 
and  said.  Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body,  which  is  broken 
for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  After  the 
same  manner  also  he  took  the  cup,  when  he  had 
supped,  saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in 
my  blood :  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remem- 
brance of  me.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he 
come."  1  Cor.  11:23-26. 


BREAKING  OF  BREAD. 


While  the  passover  supper  was  being  eaten,  Jesus 
instituted  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  or 
breaking  of  bread.  He  did  not  tell  them  just  how 
often  they  should  observe  it,  but  said:  "For  as  often 
as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show 
the  Lord's  death  till  he  come." 

"And  the  disciples  did  as  Jesus  had  appointed 
them ;  and  they  made  ready  the  passover :  .  .  .  and 
as  they  were  eating  Jesus  took  bread,  and  blessed  it, 
and  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  disciples,  and  said. 
Take,  eat;  this  is  my  body."  Mat.  26 :  19,  26. 

"And  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus  took  bread,  and 
blessed,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  to  them,  and  said. 
Take,  eat:  this  is  my  body."  Mark  14:  22. 

' '  And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks  and  brake  it, 
and  gave  unto  them,  saying,  This  is  my  body  which 
is  given  for  you:  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me." 
Luke  22 :  19. 

Many  years  after  this  time  Paul  said  to  the  Cor- 
inthian brethren:  "Now  I  praise  you,  brethren,  that 
ye  remember  me  in  all  things,  and  keep  the  ordi- 
nances, as  I  delivered  them  to  you. ' '  1  Cor.  11 :  2. 
[Which  was  imparted  unto  me.] 

"The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  The  bread  which 
we  break,  is  it  not  the  commmunion  of  the  body  of 
Christ?     For  we  being  many  are  one  bread,  and  one 

93 


94  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBIjB. 

body:  for  ■vvc  an'  all  partakers  of  that  one  bread." 
1  Cor.  10:16,17. 

"For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that  which  also 
I  deliver'fed  unto  yen,  That  the  Lord  Jesus  the  same 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed  took  bread :  and  when 
he  had  g-iven  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said,  Take,  eat ; 
this  is  my  body,  which  is  broken  for  you;  this  do  in 
remembrance  cf  me.  .  .  .  For  as  often  as  ye  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  shew  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  crme."  1  Cor.  11:23-26. 

The  gospel  was  preached  on  the  day  of  Pentecost. 
"Then  they  that  gladly  received  his  word  were  bap- 
tized: and  the  same  day  there  were  added  unto  them 
about  three  thousand  souls.  And  they  continued 
steadfastly  in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship, 
and  in  breaking  cf  bread,  and  in  prayers."  Acts 
2:41,42. 

"And  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  the 
disciples  came  together  to  break  bread,  Paul  preached 
unto  them,  ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow;  and 
continued  his  speech  until  midnight. ' '  Acts  20 :  7, 


THE    CUP   AND   WHAT   IT   REPRESENTS. 


When  Jesus  ate  the  passover  supper  with  his  dis- 
ciples and  instituted  the  ordinance  of  the  bread  and 
wine,  he  explained  to  them  what  it  represented. 
After  returning  thanks  and  breaking  the  bread  Luke 
says,  "Likewise  also  the  cup   after  supper,  saying, 


THE  CUP  AND  WHAT  IT  REPRESENTS.  95 

This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood,  which  is 
sbed  for  you."  Luke  22:20. 

"And  he  took  the  cup,  and  when  he  had  given 
thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them ;  and  they  all  drank  of 
it."  Maru  14:23. 

"And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave 
it  to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it ;  for  this  is 
my  blood  of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed  for 
many  for  the  remission  of  sins. ' '  Mat.  26 :  27,  28. 

' '  The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it  not  the 
communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ?"  1  Cor.  10:16. 

"After  the  same  manner  ako  he  took  the  cup, 
wdien  he  had  supped,  saying.  This  cup  is  the  new 
testament  in  my  blood :  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink 
it,  in  remembrance  of  me.  For  as  often  as  ye  eat 
this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup  ye  do  show  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come."  1  Cor.  11 :  25,  26. 

"And  he  said  unto  them,  This  is  my  blood  of  the 
new  testament,  which  is  shed  for  many.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  I  will  drink  no  more  of  the  fruit  of  the 
vine,  until  that  day  that  I  drink  it  new  in  the  king- 
dom of  God. ' '  Mark  14 :  24,  25.  Here  we  understand 
it  was  the  juice  of  the  grape  that  was  used,  "fruit 
of  the  vine,"  and  it  represented  his  blood,  which 
was  "shed  for  many." 


WHO  CAN  PARTICIPATE. 


The  disciples  participated  in  this  ordinance  with 
Jesus  before  his  death,  and  he  told  them  to  teach  all 
nations  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  he  had  com- 
manded them.  Mat.  28 :  20.  When  he  gave  them  this 
commission  he  also  said  unto  them,  "Go  ye  into  all 
the  w^orld,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 
He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved; 
but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  It  was 
only  believers  that  were  to  observe  this  ordinance. 

Those  who  discern  the  body  of  Christ.  1  Cor.  11: 
29.  This  signifies  the  sacrificial  body  cf  Christ  in 
the  forgiveness  of  sins.  Those  also  who  discern  the 
body  of  Christ  the  church  can  participate  in  the 
same  with  a  better  comprehension.  "For  as  the 
body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the 
members  of  that  one  body,  being  many,  are  one  body : 
so  also  is  Christ.  For  by  one  Spirit  are  we  all  bap- 
tized into. one  body,  whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
whether  we  be  bond  or  free ;  and  have  been  all  made 
to  drink  into  one  Spirit."  1  Cor.  12 :  12, 13. 

His  body  is  the  church.  Col.  1:24.  And  Christ  is 
the  head  of  the  church.  Col.  1:  18.  "And  he  is  the 
head  of  the  body,  the  church." 

The  body,  the  church  consists  of  his  people.  "Now 
ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  members  in  particu- 
lar." 1  Cor.  12:27. 

96 


WHO  CAN  PARTICIPATE.  97 

It  is  "the  church  of  God,  which  he  hath  purchased 
with  his  own  blood."  Acts  20 :  28. 

They  must  be  all  one,  as  Jesus  prayed :  '  *  That  they 
all  may  be  one;  as  thou.  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I 
in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us:  that  the 
world  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  the 
glory  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them; 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one."  John 
17:21,22. 

At  Corinth  at  this  time  there  was  not  a  perfect 
oneness.  There  were  some  who  were  claiming  to  be 
right  but  were  not  in  line  with  the  Word  of  God,  and 
were  causing  a  division  and  there  was  not  proper 
order.  This  is  why  Paul  said,  "When  ye  come  to- 
gether therefore  into  one  place,  this  is  not  to  eat 
before  other  his  own  supper:  and  one  is  hungry,  and 
another  is  drunken.  What  ?  have  ye  not  houses  to 
eat  and  to  drink  in?  or  despise  ye  the  church  of 
God,  and  shame  them  that  have  not?  What  shall 
I  say  to  you?  shall  I  praise  you  in  this?  I  praise  you 
not."  1  Cor.  11:20-22. 

Then  after  instructing  them  as  to  how  he  had 
received  instructions  from  the  Word,  he  said, 
"Wherefore,  my  brethren,  when  ye  come  together  to 
eat,  tarry  one  for  another.  And  if  any  man  hunger, 
let  him  eat  at  home."  1  Cor.  11:33.34.  That  is, 
go  ahead  and  observe,  but  wait  until  all  had  assem- 
bled that  they  might  all  participate  together.  And 
when  they  came  together  for  the  purpose  of  observ- 
ing these  ordinances,  the  first  ones  there  were  not.  to 
the  Lord's  Supper.     For  in  eating  every  one  taketh 


98  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

it  was  not  for  the  purpose  of  eating  a  full  meal,  but 
if  any  were  hungry  they  should  eat  at  home. 

As  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  showing  forth  the 
Lord 's  death  and  in  remembrance  of  him,  he  ad- 
monished that  all  examine  themselves  to  see  that  they 
were  in  line  with  God  and  in  unity  of  the  Spirit. 
"Wherefore  whosoever  shall  eat  this  bread,  and  drink 
this  cup  of  the  Lord,  unworthily,  shall  be  guilty  of 
the  body  and  blood  of  the  Lord.  But  let  a  man  ex- 
amine himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread,  and 
drink  of  that  cup.  For  he  that  eateth  and  drinketh 
unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh  damnation  to  him- 
self, not  discerning  the  Lord's  body."  1  Cor. 
11 :  27-29. 

This  is  not  for  the  purpose  of  representing  the 
belief  of  some  particular  creed  or  branch  of  the 
general  body  of  sectism,  but  is  speaking  concerning 
the  church  of  God.  Any  one  whose  sins  are  forgiven 
and  they  are  walking  in  the  light  of  the  Word  of 
God  and  discern  the  Lord's  body,  can  participate 
in  this  ordinance. 


FEET-WASHING. 


"And  supper  being  ended,  the  devil  having  now 
put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  Iscariot,  Simon's  son, 
to  betray  him ;  Jesus  knowing  that  the  Father  had 
given  all  things  into  his  hands,  and  that  he  was  come 
from  God,  and  went  to  God;  he  riseth  from  supper, 


FEET-WASHING.  99 

ana  laid  aside  his  garments;  and  took  a  towel,  and 
girded  himself. 

' '  After  that  he  poureth  water  into  a  basin,  and  be- 
gan to  wash  the  disciples'  feet,  and  to  wipe  them 
with  the  toM^el  wherewith  he  was  girded.  Then  com- 
eth  he  to  Simon  Peter:  and  Peter  saith  unto  him, 
Lord,  dost  thou  wash  my  feet?  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  him,  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now; 
but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter.  Peter  saith  unto  him. 
Thou  shalt  never  wash  my  feet.  Jesus  answered  him. 
If  I  wash  thee  not,  thou  hast  no  part  with  me. 
Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  not  my  feet  only, 
but  also  my  hands  and  my  head.  Jesus  saith  unto 
him.  He  that  is  washed  needeth  not  save  to  wash 
his  feet,  but  is  clean  every  whit :  and  ye  are  clean^ 
but  not  all.  For  he  knew  v/ho  should  betray  him; 
therefore  said  he^  Ye  are  not  all  clean. 

"So  after  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  had  taken 
his  garments,  and  was  set  down  again,  he  said  unto 
them.  Know  ye  what  I  have  done  to  you?  Ye  call 
me  Master  and  Lord :  and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am. 
If  I  then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have  washed 
your  feet ;  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one  another 's  feet. 
For  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that  ye  should  do 
as  I  have  done  to  you.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  lord;  neither  he 
that  is  sent  greater  than  he  that  sent  him.  If  ye 
know  these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them." 
John  13 :  2-17. 

He  not  only  set  an  example  for  them  to  follow  and 
told  them  that  they  would  be  happy  if  they  did  so, 


100  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

but  he  commanded  them  to  do  so  by  telling  them  they 
"ought"  and  "should"  do  as  he  had  instructed  them. 
Then  after  this  he  gave  a  command  to  teach  others 
to  do  the  same.  Mat.  28 :  20. 

It  is  clear  that  it  was  observed  by  the  apostolic 
church,  as  many  years  after  this  we  read  in  Paul's 
letter  to  Timothy  concerning  the  poor  widows  who 
were  to  be  cared  for:  "Let  not  a  widow  be  taken 
into  the  number  under  three  score  years  old,  having 
been  the  wife  of  one  man,  well  reported  of  for  good 
works;  if  she  have  brought  up  children,  if  she  have 
lodged  strangers,  if  she  have  washed  the  saints'  feet, 
if  she  have  relieved  the  afflicted,  if  she  have  diligently 
followed  every  good  work. ' '  1  Tim.  5 ;  9, 10. 


WHEN  ESTABLISHED. 


The  ordinance  of  feet-washing  was  given  at  the 
time  of  the  passover  supper  on  the  night  that  Jesus 
was  betrayed.  He  had  told  the  disciples  before  this 
to  prepare  the  passover. 

"Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread,  when  the 
passover  m.ust  be  killed.  And  he  sent  Peter  and 
John,  saying,  Go  and  prepare  us  the  passover,  that  we 
may  eat.  And  they  said  unto  him.  Where  wilt  thou 
that  we  prepare?  And  he  said  unto  them.  Behold, 
when  ye  are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  a  man 
meet  you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water ;   follow  him 


WHEN   ESTABLISHED,  101 

into  the  house  where  he  entereth  in.  And  ye  shall 
say  unto  the  gocdman  of  the  house,  The  Master  saith 
unto  thee,  Where  is  the  guest-chamber,  where  I  shall 
cat  the  passover  with  my  disciples?  And  he  shall 
^;how  you  a  large  upper  room  furnished :  there  make 
ready.  And  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat  down, 
and  the  twelve  apostles  with  him."  Luke  22:  7-14. 

Mark  says,  "And  his  disciples  went  forth,  and 
came  into  the  city,  and  found  as  he  had  said  unto 
them :  and  they  made  ready  the  passover.  And  in 
the  evening  he  cometh  with  the  twelve."  Mark  14: 
16, 17. 

"Now  before  the  feast  of  the  passover,  when  Jesus 
knew  that  his  hour  was  come  that  he  should  depart 
out  of  this  world  unto  the  Fatlier,  having  loved  his 
own  which  were  in  the  world,  he  loved  them  unto  the 
end.  And  supper  being  ended,  the  devil  having  now 
put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  Iscariot,  Simon's  son, 
to  betray  him;  Jesus  knowing  that  the  Father  had 
given  all  things  into  his  hands,  and  that  he  was 
come  from  God,  and  went  to  God ;  he  riseth  from 
supper,  and  laid  aside  his  garments;  and  took  a 
towel,  and  girded  himself."  John  13:1-4. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Matthew,  Mark  and  Luke 
recorded  that  the  passover  supper  was  "made  ready," 
that  is  completed.  John  expresses  it  in  these  words, 
"And  supper  being  ended,"  which  no  doubt  has 
reference  to  the  preparation  having  been  completed. 

It  will  no  doubt  make  it  more  clear  to  give  other 
translations  of  this  expression,  as  it  seems  clear  that 
supper  was  completed  so  far  as  preparations  were 


102  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

concerned,  and  that  it  was  after  they  sat  down  at  the 
table  that  these  ordinances  were  instituted. 

"And  supper  bein^  come." — Young's  Bible  Trans- 
lation. 

"And  when  the  supper  was  past  (served),"— 
Syriac. 

"And  supper  being'  done." — Emphatic  Diaglott. 

"And  during  supper." — Revised  Versio7i. 

"And  supper  being  in  progress/'— Rotherham, 

"And  at  supper. "—T/fe  Twentieth  Century  New 
Testament. 

These  seem  to  all  express  the  same  thought,  that 
it  was  observed  some  time  after  they  sat  down  at  the 
table  and  before  they  had  finished  eating  the  pass- 
over. 


WHY  INSTITUTED. 


The  ordinance  of  feet-washing  is  not  only  a  man- 
ifestation of  obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  Lord 
and  humble  submission  to  his  will,  but  is  a  washing, 
which  is  an  act  of  remembrance  of  having  been  made 
clean  through  the  blood  of  Jesus,  which  was  then 
soon  to  be  shed  upon  the  cross. 

Jesus  told  Peter,  "He  that  is  washed  needeth  not 
save  to  wash  his  feet,  but  is  clean  every  whit:  and 
ye  are  clean,  but  not  all."  John  13:10.  Here  he 
had  reference  to  Judas,  as  the  one  who  was  unclean, 
and  the  rest  of  them  were  clean  every  whit. 


HOW  OFTEN  TO  BE  OBSERVED.         103 

The  washing  has  a  similar  significance  concern- 
ing the  work  done  as  that  which  baptism  signifies. 

The  observance  of  this  ordinance  is  to  be  "  unto  him 
that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his 
own  blood. ' '  Rev.  1 :  5.  Jesus  here  set  the  example 
before  them  as  that  of  a  servant  one  to  another,  and 
also  the  effect  upon  the  people  who  would  witness  the 
same  is  that  no  distinction  of  rank  is  shown.  He 
here  taught  his  followers  a  lesson  of  humility  and 
obedience. 

The  chief  lesson  was  that  of  their  duty  or  obliga- 
tion of  love  toward  each  other.  When  Jesus  broke 
the  bread  and  gave  them  the  cup,  he  told  them  that 
as  often  as  they  observed  the  same  they  should  do 
it  in  remembrance  of  him. 

As  often  as  they  washed  each  other's  feet  it  was 
to  be  a  reminder  of  their  duty  toward  each  other 
in  serving  and  caring  one  for  another;  also  an  out- 
ward manifestation  of  thei"  love  and  humility,  and 
obedience  to   his  Word. 


HOW  OFTEN  TO  BE   OBSERVED 


In  setting  forth  this  ordinance,  Jesus  did  not  say 
just  how  often  it  should  be  observed,  but  he  said, 
"Ye  call  me  Master  and  Lord:  and  ye  say  well; 
for  so  I  am.  If  I  then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have 
washed    your    feet;    ye    also    ought    to    wash    one 


104  TIJE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

another's  feet.  For  I  have  given  you  an  example, 
that  ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  servant  is  not  greater 
than  his  lord ;  neither  he  that  is  sent  greater  than  he 
that  sent  him."  John  13:  13-16. 

He  then  told  them  to  teach  all  nations  to  observe 
what  he  had  commanded  them.  Mat.  28 :  19,  20.  They 
did  so  from  the  fact  that  it  is  recorded  in  1  Tim.  5 :10. 

But  the  frequency  of  this  observance  is  nowhere 
stated,  but  the  blessing  is  promised  in  the  perform- 
ance of  this  ordinance. 

As  it  was  observed  just  before  Jesus  and  his  dis- 
ciples separated,  in  like  manner  it  is  often  now  ob- 
served near  the  close  of  a  series  of  meetings  before 
the  separation  of  those  assembled,  or  sometimes  in 
local  congregations  when  some  brethren  are  about  to 
depart  for  a  time,  or  others  come  in  from  a  distance. 
It  may  be  observed  once  a  year,  or  as  much  oftener 
as  desired. 


THE  PROMISE  GIVEN. 


During  the  ministry  of  Jesus  the  disciples  found 
him  true  to  his  word,  and  they  were  made  happy 
through  obedience  to  his  commands.  And  now  as 
he  gave  his  last  commands,  giving  them  an  example 
and  teaching  them  to  follow  in  his  steps  and  obey  his 
words,  they  knew  that  when  he  said,  "If  ye  know 
these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them,"  that  they 


CUSTOM  UNDER  THE  LAW.  105 

would  not  be  disappointed  if  obedient,  and  that  they 
could  in  all  confidence  teach  the  people  in  like  manner 
that  the  promised  blessing  would  follow.  The  work 
wrought  in  the  heart  by  the  power  of  God  brought 
about  a  blessing  and  filled  the  soul  with  happiness, 
and  thus  he  gave  the  promise  of  a  blessing  to  accom- 
pany the  fulfilment  of  this  command  and  said,  *'If 
ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments. ' '  John  14 :  15. 

"He  that  hath  my  commandments  and  keepeth 
them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me.  ...  If  a  man  love  me, 
he  will  keep  my  words.  .  .  .  He  that  loveth  me  not 
keepeth  not  my  sayings."  People  who  do  not  believe 
in  obeying  the  words  of  Jesus  will  surely  not  receive 
the  promised  blessing,  even  if  they  should  go  through 
an  outward  performance  of  observance,  but  those  who 
believe  and  obey  will  have  an  inward  realization  of 
the  truthfulness  of  his  Word. 


CUSTOM  UNDER  THE  LAW. 


It  is  claimed  by  some  who  oppose  the  observance 
of  the  ordinance  of  feet-washing,  that  when  Christ 
washed  his  disciples'  feet,  that  he  was  only  fulfilling 
a  Jewish  custom  wherein  those  of  superior  rank 
washed  the  feet  of  the  inferior,  having  their  claims 
upon  1  Sam.  25:41,  where  David  sent  his  servants 
to  Abigail,  that  he  might  take  her  as  his  wife.  "And 
she  arose,  and  bowed  herself  on  her  face  to  the  earth, 


106  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

and  said,  Behold,  let  thine  handmaid  be  a  servant 
to  wash  the  feet  of  the  servants  of  my  Lord." 

But  this  was  not  the  custom  under  the  law,  as  we 
will  show  by  the  Word  of  God,  but  was  only  one 
particular  case,  which  nowhere  is  intimated  as  a  cus- 
tom. It  will  readily  be  understood  what  was  the 
custom  in  ancient  times  and  under  the  law  by  re- 
terrino'  to  a  few  instances  among  the  people  of  God. 

It  was  not  the  custom  to  wash  one  another's  feet, 
but  bring  water  and  let  them  wash  their  own  feet. 
When  three  men  went  to  visit  Abraham  at  one  time 
on  a  special  mission,  he  ran  to  meet  them  "and 
bowed  himself  toward  the  ground,  and  said,  My 
Lord,  if  now  I  have  found  favor  in  thy  sight,  pass 
not  away,  I  pray  thee,  from  thy  servant :  let  a  little 
water,  I  pray  you,  be  fetched,  and  wash  your  feet, 
and  rest  yourselves  under  the  tree."  Gen.   18:2-4. 

When  the  two  angels  came  to  visit  Lot  "he  bowed 
himself  with  his  face  toward  the  ground ;  and  he 
said,  Behold  now,  my  lords,  turn  in,  I  pray  you,  into 
your  servant's  house,  and  tarry  all  night,  and  wash 
your  feet,  and  ye  shall  rise  up  early  and  go  on  your 
ways."  Gen.  19:1,2. 

When  Abraham  sent  his  servant  on  a  special 
errand  to  select  a  wife  for  Isaac,  when  he  came  to 
the  place  the  servant  was  received  with  honor  by 
Laban.  "And  the  man  came  into  the  house:  and 
he  ungirded  his  camels,  and  gave  straw  and  proven- 
der for  the  camels,  and  water  to  wash  his  feet,  and 
the  men's  feet  that  were  with  him."  Gen.  24:32. 

"And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying,  Thou 


CUSTOM  UNDER  THE  LAW.  107 

shalt  also  make  a  laver  of  brass,  and  his  foot  also  of 
brass,  to  wash  withal:  and  thou  shalt  put  it  between 
the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  and  the  altar,  and 
thou  shalt  put  water  therein.  For  Aaron  and  his 
sons  shall  wash  their  hands  and  their  feet  thereat." 
Ex.  30 :  17-19. 

"And  he  set  the  laver  between  the  tent  of  the 
congregation  and  the  altar,  and  put  water  there,  to 
wash  withal.  And  Moses  and  Aaron  and  his  sons 
washed  their  hands  and  their  feet  thereat :  when  they 
went  into  the  tent  of  the  congregation,  and  when 
they  came  near  unto  the  altar,  they  washed;  as  the 
Lord  commanded  Moses."  Ex.  40:30-32. 

When  the  Levite  was  on  his  way  to  Bethlehem  he 
was  anxious  to  find  a  place  to  stay  for  the  night. 
He  met  an  old  man  at  Gibeah,  and  the  old  man  said, 
"Peace  be  with  thee;  howsoever  let  all  thy  wants 
lie  upon  me ;  only  lodge  not  in  the  street.  So  he 
brought  him  into  his  house,  and  gave  provender 
unto  the  asses :  and  they  washed  their  feet,  and  did 
eat  and  drink."  Judges  19:20,21. 

David  said,  "Uriah,  go  down  to  thy  house  and 
wash  thy  feet. ' ' 

These  instances  and  others  are  sufficient  to  show 
that  it  was  a  custom  before  the  birth  of  Christ  for 
people  to  bring  water  and  let  their  guests  wash  theii- 
own  feet ;  but  the  command  which  Jesus  gave  was, 
that  they  were  to  wash  one  another's  feet,  thus 
showing  forth  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and  humility. 

In  the  observance  of  this  ordinance  everything  is 
to  be  done  properly  and  in  order  and  not  promis- 


108  THE    ORDINANCES    OP    THE    BIBLE. 

euously  with  the  opposite  sex.  The  brethren  should 
wash  the  feet  of  the  brethren  and  the  sisters  the  feet 
of  the  sisters.  Basins  or  bowls  containing  water, 
also  towels  of  suflfieient  length  to  gird  the  body  and 
wipe  the  feet,  are  to  be  used  as  in  the  example  given 
by  Jesus. 


OBJECTIONS  CONSIDERED. 


The  objections  to  observing  feet-washing  as  an 
ordinance  are  many,  but  these  do  not  come  from 
those  who  seek  to  do  the  will  of  God  without  com- 
promise. It  will  not  be  neces.sary  to  mention  all  of 
them,  as  tho.se  who  neglect  and  t)ppose  the  truth  can 
find  many  excuses  for  so  doing. 

Among  the  excuses  or  objections  is  that  it  was  a 
Jewish  custom  and  common  among  the  people.  In 
the  previous  chapter  it  is  clearly  stated  by  the  Word 
of  God  that  the  Jewish  custom  was  to  bring  the  water 
and  let  the  guests  wash  their  own  feet,  and  in  no 
case  did  they  make  a  practise  of  washing  each 
other's  feet  as  a  custom.  Had  such  been  the  custom 
Peter  would  have  known  it  and  would  not  have 
objected  when  Jesus  came  to  wash  his  feet. 

Again  some  say  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to 
always  wash  just  before  eating.  It  was  their  custom 
to  wash,  but  it  was  their  hands  that  they  washed 
instead  of  their  feet,  as  in  Mark  7:3-5:  "For  the 
Pharisees,  and  all  the  Jews,  except  they  wash  their 


OBJECTIONS    CONSIDERED.  109 

hands  oft,  eat  not,  holding  the  tradition  of  the 
elders.  And  when  they  come  from  the  market,  ex- 
cept they  wash,  they  eat  not.  And  many  other  things 
there  be,  which  they  have  received  to  hold,  as  the 
washing  of  cups,  and  pots,  brazen  vessels,  and  of 
tables.  Then  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  asked  him. 
Why  walk  not  thy  disciples  according  to  the  tradition 
of  the  elders,  but  eat  bread  with  unwa.shen  hands?" 

Again  some  say  that  in  that  country  it  was  their 
custom  to  bathe  often,  but  we  find  in  setting  forth 
this  ordinance  when  Peter  found  that  unless  he 
obeyed  the  Lord  he  would  have  no  part  with  him, 
he  was  willing  to  be  washed  or  bathed  all  over— his 
hands,  his  head  and  his  feet,  but  Jesus  gave  him  to 
understand  that  was  not  necessary,  and  not  what  he 
required,  that  it  was  his  feet  only  that  were  to  be 
washed. 

Another  one  says,  "They  wore  sandals  and  their 
feet  were  dirty  and  Jesus  said  they  were  clean, 
but  not  all,  meaning  that  their  feet  were  dirty  an.i 
their  feet  needed  washing."  But  such  is  only  a 
plain  wresting  of  the  Scripture.  He  gave  them  to 
understand  there  that  he  was  not  washing  their  feet 
because  they  were  dirty.  The  custom  of  the  oriental 
countries  was  for  travelers  to  wash  their  own  feet 
before  coming  in  the  house,  but  these  brethren  whose 
feet  Jesus  was  about  to  wash  he  told  them  that  they 
were  clean  every  whit  and  needed  only  to  wash  their 
feet.  He  says,  "Ye  are  clean,  but  not  all."  Then 
he  tells  why  he  said  they  were  not  all  clean.  "For 
he  knew  who  should  betray  him ;  therefore  said  he, 


110  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

\  e  are  not  all  clean. ' '  Judas  was  the  unclean  one, 
that  is  Avhy  he  said,  "Ye  are  clean,  but  not  all."  It 
was  not  because  the  feet  of  Judas  were  dirty,  but 
because  of  the  condition  of  his  soul.  John  13 :  10, 11. 

Some  say  it  was  only  fulfilling  the  Jewish  custom 
of  the  superior  serving  the  inferior,  that  is  one  of  a 
higher  rank  acting  the  part  of  a  servant  to  those  of 
an  inferior  or  lower  rank  and  standing  in  society. 
Their  only  proof  on  this  line  is  where  David  sent  his 
servants  to  Abigail  to  take  her  as  his  wife  and  she 
expressed  a  desire  to  wash  the  servants'  feet;  but 
this  was  not  the  custom,  nor  did  not  establish  a 
custom  on  that  line,  neither  did  the  servants  offer  to 
wash  her  feet,  as  the  command  to  the  disciples  was 
to  wash  one  another's  feet. 

Then  again  some  say  that  he  was  only  teaching 
them  to  give  up  their  will,  and  that  they  were  to 
learn  the  lesson  to  be  humble  and  do  good  to  others, 
rather  than  to  be  served  themselves.  He  truly  ac- 
knowledged himself  as  their  Lord  and  Master  and 
set  an  example  of  humility,  showing  them  by  his 
example  that  they  should  have  equal  honor  one  for 
another  and  be  servants  one  to  another.  But  when 
we  further  realize  the  spiritual  lessons  taught  therein 
and  the  promised  blessings  for  its  observance,  and 
that  he  commanded  them  to  teach  all  nations  to 
observe  these  things,  all  the  excuses  and  objections 
that  can  be  brought  up  will  not  change  the  Word  of 
God,  nor  do  away  with  the  necessity  of  being 
obedient. 


THE  HOLY  KISS. 


The  apostle  in  writing  to  the  brethren  at  various 
places  instructed  them  in  the  following  manner,  con- 
cerning greeting  with  the  holy  kiss : 

"Salute  one  another  with  an  holy  kiss."  Rom. 
16 :  16. 

"All  the  brethren  greet  you.  Greet  ye  one  another 
with  an  holy  kiss."  1  Cor.  16:20. 

"Greet  one  another  with  an  holy  kiss."  2  Cor. 
13  :  12. 

"Greet  all  the  brethren  with  an  holy  kiss." 
1  Thes.  5:26. 

"Greet  ye  one  another  with  a  kiss  of  charity. 
Peace  be  with  you  all  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Amen."  1  Pet.  5:14. 


ITS  OBSERVANCE. 


Whether  or  not  kissing  each  other  was  observed 
among  the  Jews  as  a  custom  a.side  from  the  greeting 
of  special  friends  and  on  special  occasions  is  not 
stated  in  the  Word  of  God,  however,  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  instances  given  in  the  Old  Testament  as  well 
as  the  New  where  expressions  of  love  were  manifest 
at  the  meeting  of  friends  who  had  for  some  time 
been   separated.     This   could   not   be   considered   so 

111  .       ,. 


112  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

much  of  a  custom  as  a  natural  giving  vent  to  feelings 
by  this  outward  manifestation.  We  have  no  record 
that  Jesus  gave  command  for  his  people  to  observe 
this  as  an  ordinance,  but  we  would  infer  that  it 
was  a  practise  among  the  people  of  God  during  the 
time  of  his  ministry  as  a  manifestation  of  love  and 
charity,  as  he  said  to  Simon  concerning  the  woman 
with  the  alabaster  box  of  ointment:  "Seest  thou 
this  woman  ?  I  entered  into  thine  house,  thou  gavest 
me  no  water  for  my  feet :  but  she  hath  washed  my 
feet  with  tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the  hairs  of 
her  head.  Thou  gavest  me  no  kiss:  but  this  woman 
since  the  time  I  came  in  hath  not  ceased  to  kiss  my 
feet."  Luke  7:44,45. 

Judas  told  the  enemies  of  Christ  that  they  would 
know  him,  as  when  he  came  to  him  he  would  kiss 
Jesus,  supposing,  no  doubt,  that  as  it  was  a  common 
occurrence  that  Jesus  and  his  disciples  w^ould  not 
suspicion  anything  wrong.  But  Jesus  knowing  his 
heart  said  unto  him,  "Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son 
of  man  with  a  kiss?" 

When  Paul  was  about  to  depart  from  the  brethren 
at  one  place,  "They  all  wept  sore,  and  fell  on  Paul's 
neck,  and  kissed  him,  sorrowing  most  of  all  for  the 
words  which  he  spake,  that  they  should  see  his  face 
no  more.  And  they  accompanied  him  unto  the  ship." 
Acts  20:37,38. 

While  we  do  not  consider  this  an  ordinance  in  the 
sense  and  signification  of  the  ordinances  given  by 
Christ,  yet  there  is  something  in  it  more  than  a  mer.^ 
ordinary  worldly  custom,  as  it  is  an  expression  of 


ITS    OBSERVANCE.  113 

love  and  charity.  This  is  often  abused  and  made 
ridiculous  by  some  who  think  that  they  must  greet 
each  other  with  a  kiss  every  time  they  meet,  whether 
on  the  street,  in  crowded  thoroughfares,  or  other 
public  places,  at  home  or  abroad,  before  public  ser- 
vices and  after,  and  that  the  entire  congregation  must 
greet  each  other,  women  greeting  women  and  men 
greeting  men.  But  such  would  be  an  abuse  and  make 
it  ridiculous,  not  only  to  believers,  but  to  others. 

Then  again  there  are  some  whose  hearts  are  filled 
with  lustful  desires  who  try  to  impose  a  promiscuous 
observance  by  men  and  women  kissing  each  other, 
but  such  is  not  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of 
the  Word  of  God. 

After  observing  the  ordinance  of  washing  feet  the 
participants  generally  greet  with  a  kiss,  and  at  such 
a  time  it  is  all  right  to  greet  with  a  kiss  or  refrain 
from  doing  so. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  greet  all  the  brethren  every 
time  they  come  together  for  public  worship,  or  make 
a  display  of  such  unnecessarily  in  public  places,  as  it 
brings  unnecessary  ridicule  upon  the  cause  of 
Christ. 


LIFTING  UP  HOLY  HANDS. 


We  do  not  class  tho  liftinp:  up  of  holy  hands  as 
an  ordinance  in  the  church  of  God,  but  something 
similar  to  that  of  fasting,  prayer  and  other  things 
that  are  to  be  done  by  the  children  of  God.  David 
said,  "Lift  up  your  hands  in  the  sanctuary,  and 
bless  the  Lord.  The  Lord  that  made  heaven  and 
earth  bless  thee  out  of  Zion."  Psa.  134:  2,  3. 

"Hear  the  voice  of  my  supplications,  when  I  cry 
unto  thee,  when  I  lift  up  my  hands  toward  thy  holy 
oracle."  Psa.  28:2. 

"Thus  will  I  bless  thee  while  I  live:  I  will  lift 
up  my  hands  in  thy  name.  My  soul  shall  be  satis- 
fied as  with  marrow  and  fatness ;  and  my  mouth  shall 
praise  thee  with  joyful  lips."  Psa.  63:4,5. 

"Let  my  prayer  be  set  forth  before  thee  as  in- 
cense ;  and  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands  as  the  even- 
ing sacrifice."  Psa.  141:2. 

"I  ftretch  forth  my  hands  unto  thee:  my  soul 
tlirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  thirsty  land."  Psa.  143:6. 

Paul  said,  "I  will  therefore  that  men  pray  cvery- 
wliere,  lifting  up  holy  hands,  without  wrath  and 
d(ubting."  1  Tim.  2:8. 

"Wherefore  lift  up  the  hands  which  hang  down, 
and  the  feeble  knees;  and  make  straight  paths  for 
your  feet,  lest  that  which  is  lame  be  turned  out  of  the 
way."  Heb.   12:12,13. 


114 


WHAT  IT  REPRESENTS. 


We  find  by  the  scriptures  given  in  the  previous 
chapter,  that  the  lifting  up  of  hands  was  something 
done  both  in  private  and  public.  In  one  place  Paul 
expresses  his  desire  that  men  "pray  everywhere," 
and  not  only  pray,  but  lift  up  holy  hands.  This 
does  not  necessarily  mean  the  hands  must  always  be 
lifted  up  every  time  we  pray,  nor  that  they  should 
net  be  lifted  up  at  other  times. 

From  the  words  of  David,  "Lift  up  your  hands  in 
the  sanctuary  and  bless  the  Lord,"  we  would  not  only 
infer  that  he  meant  while  in  prayer,  but  in  any  man- 
ner of  giving  praise  unto  God.  It  may  be  done 
while  singing,  as  ofttimes  a  supplication  unto  God 
or  giving  vent  to  the  feelings  by  making  melody  in 
the  heart  is  expressed  in  this  way. 

Jeremiah  said,  "Let  us  lift  up  our  heart  with  our 
hands  unto  God  in  the  heavens."  Lam.  3:41.  This 
can  be  done  either  in  song  or  prayer. 

The  lifting  up  of  holy  hands  also  has  in  it  an  ex- 
pression of  victory  and  open-heartedness.  Ofttimes 
in  a  congregation  when  some  are  discouraged,  if 
hands  are  raised  in  the  midst  of  a  song  it  sends  a 
thrill  of  heavenly  inspiration  into  their  souls. 

When  the  children  of  Israel  were  in  battle  with 
the  Amalekites  "it  came  to  pass,  when  IMoses  held  up 
his  hand,  that  Israel  prevailed :  and  when  he  let 
down    his    hand,    Amalek    prevailed.      But    Moses' 

115 


116  THE    ORDINANCES    OF    THE    BIBLE. 

hands  were  heavy;  and  they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it 
under  him,  and  he  sat  thereon ;  and  Aaron  and  Ilur 
stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
other  on  the  other  side;  and  his  hands  were  steady 
until  the  goinj?  down  of  the  sun.  And  Joshua  discom- 
fited Amalek  and  his  people  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Write  this 
for  a  memorial  in  a  book,  and  rehearse  it  in  the  ears 
of  Joshua :  for  I  will  utterly  put  out  the  remembrance 
of  Amalek  from  under  heaven."  Ex.  17:  11-14. 

This  can  be  carried  to  extremes  either  by  neglect 
or  by  observing  it  more  frequently  than  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  directs,  and  thus  only  have  a  form  of 
worship  on  that  line.  It  sometimes  becomes  a  form 
if  the  hands  are  only  raised  at  the  beginning  of  the 
chorus  of  the  song,  although  this  can  be  done  fre- 
quently without  formality.  All  should  be  directed 
by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 


JUST    ISSUED 

DIVINE     LAW 

And    the    Sabbath 

In  All  Ages 

by 
L.   K.   Morgan 

A  Message  for  the  times — 
A  Message  you  should  read 

'By  the   Law  is  the  knowledge  of  Sin" 

"God's  holy  law,  transgressed, 
Speaks  nothing  but  despair; 
Burdened  with  guilt,  with  grief  oppressed 
We  find  no  comfort  there. 

"Relief  alone  is  found 

In  Jesus'  precious  blood; 
'Tis  this  that  heals  the  mortal  wound, 
And  reconciles  to  God." 

"Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  right- 
eousness   to  every  one  that  believeth." 


I'ouudt'd  with  the  supreme  law,  even  should 
the  law  or  code  of  laws  be  called  'God's 
law,'  'the  law  of  God,'  or  other  like  names." 


Following  are  the  seventeen  chapter  head- 
ings under  which  the  subjects  are  treated: 

Gods    Ri^rht    as    Sovereigrn; 

The  World  in  the  Beginning-; 

Civil  Government; 

The  Redeemer  Promised; 

The  Orig-in  and  Kelig-ion  of  Hgypt; 

Israel  in  Eg-ypt; 

From  Eg-ypt  to  Sinai; 

The  Schoolmaster  or  Sinaitic  Covenant; 

The  Sabbath  a  Sig-u  to  Israel; 

God's  Memorial; 

Our  Rest; 

The  Rest  that  Remaineth; 

God's  Eternal  Purpose; 

New  Testament  Instruction; 

Sunday  Venerated; 

The  Truth   Defended; 

The   Rig-ht   Christian   Attitude. 

The  book  contains  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  pages, 
and  is  printed  on  good  paper  from  clear,  large,  new  type. 

Sent  postpaid  for  50  cents 

GOSFEI.  TRUMPET  CO.,  ANDERSON,  INDIANA. 

1824 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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